LII 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


LIPS    OF    MUSIC 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

BY  CHARLOTTE    PORTER 


NEW   YORK 

THOMAS   Y.  CROWELL  &  CO. 
PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,   1910 
BY  THOMAS  Y.   CROWELL  &  Co. 


Published  September,  1910 


THE    UNIVERSITY    PRESS,     CAMBRIDGE,     U.S.A. 


' 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

FOR  Poems  here  collected  that  were  first  printed  in 
Ains  lee's,  The  Atlantic  Monthly,  The  Century,  The 
Christian  Register,  Lippincotfs,  The  Outlook,  The 
Pathfinder,  and  Poet-lore,  thanks  are  rendered  to  the 
publishers  of  those  magazines  for  the  courtesy  of  their 
leave  to  reprint. 

A  few  of  these  Poems  appeared  under  the  pen-name, 
««  Robert  Iphys  Everett." 

Five  of  the  "  Green  Bird  "  lyrics  have  been  set  to  music 
by  Helen  A.  Clarke;  "Bertrand's  Song"  has  been  set 
to  music  by  Margaret  Ruthven  Lang;  "The  Tragic 
Rapture ' '  has  been  set  to  music  by  Mabel  Hill. 


TV] 


626201 


CONTENTS 


ARTEMIS 

PAGE 

To  THE  RED  DOORS 3 

THE  GREEN  BIRD 5 

The  Call 5 

The  Nest 6 

Nest  Song 6 

The  Over-Song 7 

The  Under-Song 7 

Music's  Shell 8 

The  Voice     8 

The  Everlasting n 

The  Glimpse 10 

Blessedness 10 

The  Cup 10 

The  "  Twin-Flower  "  Garden n 

TheWildwood      n 

Sun-Force  and  Moon-Charm 12 

Flowing 13 

The  "Rote" 14 

The  Moon-Star 15 

The  God's  Hand      15 

The  Sea-Gull 16 

[vii] 


CONTENTS 

THE  GREEN   BIRD  —  continued  PAGE 

The  Sloop      17 

The  Rock  Pool .  18 

The  Star-Sown  Night 18 

The  Veiled  Aurora  . 19 

The  Island  at  the  Cliffs 20 

"Burning-off  "  of  the  Fog      21 

When  the  Goddesses  Met 22 

The  Burthen 23 

Moon  Toil 24 

The  Harvest  of  Rest 25 

The  Waters  under  the  Earth 27 

The  Day's  Nurture      28 

A  Breath  of  Air 29 

Island  Magic 31 

SELF-SUFFICEMENT 32 

EARTH'S  ARTISTS 34 

THE  BEAT  OF  A  WING 36 

THOSE  BROWN  MUMMERS 38 

WEATHER  WISDOM 40 

THE  MIRACLE  OF  SPRING 42 

MOON  GLAMOUR 44 

AWARE 46 

DAYLIGHT 47 

AIRS  OF  SPRING 49 

COME! 51 

THE  FLOWER  ANSWERS 53 

THE  SECRET  OF  THE  PLACE 54 

MONHEGAN 56 

[  viii  ] 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

INLAND 58 

ISLE  AU  HAUT     60 

WITH  WAVES  AND  WINGS      62 

THE  CHILDE  BY  THE  SEA 64 

II 

SELENE 

PSALM  OF  THE  RED  DOORS 75 

LOVE'S  BANQUET 77 

THE  RETICENT  STARS 80 

THE  HUSHED  STRAIN 82 

How  SHALL  I  MY  TRUE  LOVE  KNOW  ?   .    .    .    .  83 

LOVE,  HELP  THY  LIEGEMAN!       85 

IKAROS 87 

THE  SECOND  VINTAGE 88 

THE  "UNEXPRESSIVE  SHE  " 90 

KEEPING  SCORE 92 

FLITTING  JOY 93 

THE  BANNERS      94 

NIRVANA 95 

THE  WAY  OF  THE  WIND 96 

SATURN 98 

LOVE'S  HOLY  DAYS 101 

The  Christmas      101 

The  Epiphany IO2 

The  Holy  Thursday 103 

The  Easter  Eve 105 

[ix] 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  ORDER  OF  PERPETUAL  ADORATION   ....  107 

IMMORTALITY 108 

BY  THE  SIXTH  SENSE no 

INTERLUDE 

EPILOGUE  SONGS.    Written  for  Browning's  "Return 

of  the  Druses  " 115 

DjabaPs  Song 115 

Anael's  Song 116 

IN  PRAISE  OF  BROWNING      117 

TRANSLATIONS 

Bertrand's  Song  to  the  Mariners.    From  Ros- 
tand's "La  Princesse  Lointaine  "    ...  119 
Mila's  Song.     From  D'Annunzio's  "La  Figlia 

di  Jorio  " 121 

Prayer.    From  D'Annunzio's  '  'La  Nave "    .  122 

III 

HECATE 

THE  TRAGIC  RAPTURE 127 

AMULETS 128 

MASTERY 128 

WORK  DAY  PRAYERS      129 

HOLY  DAY  PRAYERS 130 

A  GLAD  LITTLE  SORRY  SONG 131 

CRADLE  SONG  TO  THE  WORLD-MOTHER  —  LIFE  132 

THE  HEARTH  FIRE 134 

THE  LIGHTED  FACE 137 

[x] 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  SUNLIT  SHOWER 139 

IN  THE  CROWD  —  A  SONG  ! 140 

WORK  DAY  SUNSET  CHANT 142 

CHELSEA 144 

DOUBLE  MOMENTS 155 

THE  MASTER-FATE 157 

THE  CALL  OF  MODERN  TRAGEDY 159 

LIFE'S  RHYMES.    A  CORONA 161 

Flux 161 

Form 163 

Growth 165 

Motive 167 

Desire 169 

Power 171 

Love 173 

FAIRY  GOLD 175 

LIPS  OF  Music 176 

RED  DOORS      179 

CHRISTMASTIDE  BENEDICTION  FOR  THE  DARK  OF 

THE  YEAR 183 


[xi] 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING  PAGE 

ARTEMIS.     The  Rede  from  Callimachus 2 

LA  NASCITA  DI  VENERE.    Sandro  Botticelli      .    .  42 

SELENE.     The  Rede  from  Homeric  Hymn  ....  74 

NIRVANA.     Simeon  Solomon      95 

THE  VISION  OF  LOVE  IN  SLEEP.    Simeon  Solomon  108 

HECATE.     The  Rede  from  Orphic  Hymn   ....  126 


[  xiii  ] 


I 

ARTEMIS 


STAND   FACE   TO  FACE   -   FRIEND   •  AND 
UNFEIL   THE  GRACE  IN  THINE  EYES 

—  SAP  HO 


[I] 


V-iELEBRATE  Artemis,  for  she  is  not 
light  to  minstrels  to  forget,  Virgin  Artemis, 
whom  all  the  gods  alike  invite,  but  who  is 
throned  beside  Apollo.  ...  To  her  the  bow 
and  the  wide  choir  and  disporting  on  the 
mountains  are  a  care,  the  mountains  tressed 
with  woods,  toward  Ocean  ('T  will  be  rare 
indeed  when  Artemis  shall  go  down  into  a 
city),  Pheraean  goddess,  watcher  over  harbors, 
companion  of  noble  maidens,  bringer  of 
light! 

Adapted  from  Callimachus. 


\ 


TO  THE  RED  DOORS 

The  Lips  of  Whoso  gives   Words  Life. 

\JlJT  of    the  red  doors   in   high    triumph 

thronging,— 

Bearing  and  sway,  to  new  Ccesars  belonging — 
Out  of  the  red  doors  resistlessly  marching, 
As  Ccesars  of  Rome  from  carven  stone  arching. 
Out  of  the  red  doors  with  vigor  unswerving. 
Moulding  the  Soul  to  delight  and  deserving, 
Throbbing,  thrilled  through  from  the  mouth's 

human  curving,  — 

Eagles  of  empery,  strong  pinioned  birds, 
True  winged  to  their  aim,  come  swift  words, 

live  words! 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 

To  H.  A.  C. 

THE  CAI;L 

IN  town  in  May  I  heard  the  Spring's 

Soft  foot  fall: 

Then  hushing  from  the  heart  of  things, 
With  flutter  of  returning  wings, 
And  her  green  gown's  faint  rustleings, 
I  caught  the  strain  her  glad  face  brings  — 
The  Song  of  songs  the  great  Deep  sings  — 

The  root  call. 
Oh,  follow,  when  you  hear  the  Spring's 

Soft  foot  fall, 
The  Song  of  songs  the  great  Deep  sings  — 

The  root  call ! 


[51 


LIPS    OF   MUSIC 


THE    NEST 

JL  HE  round  warm  Isle  is  like  a  nest,  — 

A  green  bird's  nest  in  nesting  weather, 
Each  fledgeling  tree  perks  up  his  crest, 
And    soft    green    down    grows    soft   green 
feather. 


NEST    SONG 

JL  HE  green  bird  feeds  her  fledgelings  well ; 
Each   day  they  fling  their  green   plumes 

wider; 
The  green  bird  croons  a  fairy  spell,  — 

Her  wide-winged  nestlings  sing  beside  her ! 


[6] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


THE    OVER-SONG 

A.S  fine  leaves  lilt  a  lighter  over-lay 
Above  the  tone  whereto  the  big  boughs  sway, 
So  bird-and-bee-tunes  brightly  pipe  and  whir 
Across  the  Sea's  profounder  rhythmic  stir. 

THE    UNDER-SONG 

JjEEP  in  the  pulsing  of  the  vast  Sea's  push 

The  whole  World  round  and  here, 
In  swell  and  whisper  of  the  great  Wind's  rush 

Far  off  and  then  quite  near, 
I  hear  the  voice  of  Being,  whence  all  tended, 
Beating  the  borders  of  the  Spheres  along, 

Then  in  my  heart  so  strong,  — 
"'Tis    mine,"    I   cry,    "or  with   my   Spirit 
blended: 

We  are  Life's  under-song!" 

[7] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

MUSIC'S    SHELL 

1  HE  caverned  Isle  is  Music's  ancient  Shell, 

Attuned  of  yore  to  sing  and  sob, 
Resound  the  tone  of  every  thrill  and  throb 

Of  Ocean's  flowing  fingers; 
The  passion  of  her  heaving  bosom's  swell, 

Her  thunder-throe  and  tempest-start, 
Soothed  and  accorded  in  the  Isle's  deep  heart, 

All  harmony  there  lingers. 

THE    VOICE 

O  DEARER  than  dear  face  we  love, 

Or  deep  dear  eyes  of  lover, 
O  dearer  than  the  Isle  we  love, 

Or  bending  sky  above  her 
Is  Voice  of  Isle;  and  Voice  of  Love, 

For  there  our  hearts  discover 
All  graces  our  fond  eyes  do  love 

And  Music's  grace  moreover! 
[8] 


THE  GREEN   BIRD 


THE    EVERLASTING 

1  OU  feel  the  Earth  a  planet  here, 

She  swings  in  airy  space; 
You  hear  her  sing  —  a  sister  sphere 
With  all  her  sky-born  race! 

The  Everlasting  draws  quite  near, 
Its  World-breath  flows  and  sighs; 

And  yet  you  meet  It  with  no  fear:  — 
Joy  lives  in  Its  wide  eyes. 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE    GLIMPSE 

O  ALL  the  sky  is  beautiful, 
But  in  one  cloud-rent  space 

T  is  blue  of  blue,  —  ethereal,  — 
The  Soul  from  Heaven's  face! 

BLESSEDNESS 

O  BLESSEDNESS  of  feeling  one 
With  life  of  Sea  and  Wild,  - 

To  lay  me  down  when  day  is  done 
The  Island's  loved  child! 

THE    CUP 

\J  JOY  is  like  a  magic  cup, 

I  lift  it  to  the  sky, 
And  still  the  more  I  offer  up 

The  fuller  joy  have  I! 

[10] 


THE   GREEN  BIRD 


THE  "TWIN-FLOWER"  GARDEN 

JL  LABORED,  delving,  sowing, 

To  plant  a  garden  wee 
Of  seedsman's  flowers  for  showing: 

The  wild-flowers  laughed  at  me. 
I  caught  the  witches  growing 

Around  a  shattered  tree  — 
A  thousand  twin-flowers  meeting 

In  fairy  folk-mote  there; 
They  nodded  me  a  greeting,  — 

And  fragrance  filled  the  air: 
"We  came  without  your  weeting, 

We  thrived  without  your  care." 

THE    WILDWOOD 

Ji  HIS  garden  was  not  sown  nor  planted, 

This  garden  no  hands  made, 
And  yet  no  means  were  for  it  scanted 
Since  Earth's  first  soil  was  laid, 
[ii] 


LIPS  OF   MUSIC 


SUN-FORCE  AND  MOON-CHARM 

1  HY  vital  force,  O  golden  Sun, 

Instill  and  bathe  me! 
Thy  charm,  O  Moon,  thou  Magic  One, 

O'erthrill  and  swathe  me! 
Let  instant  thought  and  impulse  swift 

Empower,  move  me, 
Alluring  grace,  serene  uplift 

Endower,  prove  me! 


[12] 


THE    GREEN   BIRD 


FLOWING 

FLOWING!  Flowing!  Flowing  ever! 
Charm  and  Beauty,  Sea,  like  thine,  is  there 

never! 

Flowing!  Flowing!  Flowing  ever! 
Hush!  her  white  lips  said,  "Thy  life,  mortal 

blinded,  — 

Flowing!  Flowing!  Flowing  ever!  — 
Charm  and  Beauty  like  mine  hath,  wert  so 

minded." 
Flowing!   Flowing!  Flowing  ever! 


[13] 


LIPS  OF   MUSIC 


THE  "ROTE" 

J.  HE  quick  impressionable  Sea  takes  note 

Long  ere  the  storm  winds  rise 
And  moans  along  the  shore  the  wailing  rote 
No  tempest  may  surprise. 

Like   thee,   O   trembling  Heart,   she   surely 

knows 

When  Fate's  fleet  stroke  must  fall, 
And  thrills  with  prescience  of  the  muttering 

throes 
The  strong  soul  shall  forestall. 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


THE    MOON-STAR 

\J  THE  Moon  is  entangled  and  caught  in 

a  cloud, 
And  the  frowning  cloud  jeers:  "There  you 

are!" 
But  the  Moon  makes  a  glory  of  rose  of  her 

shroud, 
And  peers  out  a  new  way,  —  like  a  Star! 


THE    GOD'S    HAND 

JL  SAW  the  hand  of  great  Poseidon  grasp 
The  iron  coast,  —  a  wave-washed,  weed- 
swirled  rock 

Shaped  like  a  hand: 

Now,  ever  in  the  full  tide's  grip  and  shock 
I  feel  the  god's  compulsive  clutch  and  clasp 
Moulding  the  land. 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE    SEA-GULL 

O  WHITE  WINGS  —  O  White  Wings! 

Far  over  waves  and  tossing  seas, 

High  above  hills  and  swaying  trees 

The  Sea-gull  flings 

Her  wide  white  wings :  — 

O  bright  and  light  — 

A  foam-fleck's  sprite  — 

A  curled  cloud's  flight! 

The  wind's  true  arrow, 

As  straight  and  narrow! 

The  spring  tide's  pull, 

As  firm  and  full! 

Only  desire  within  me  flows 

As  firm  and  free,  as  lightly  goes, 
O  White  Wings !    O  White  Wings ! 


[16] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


THE    SLOOP 

O  GIVE  the  slim-keeled  moon 
The  gull's  wide  wing! 

So  let  the  boat  be  hewn! 
So  let  her  white  sail  spring! 

So  shall  the  waves  be  drawn 

To  close  her  round  and  fawn, 
All  mad  for  her, 

The  while  her  spread  wings  spur 

The  comrade  wind  along, 

Yet  she  —  the  Water's  lure  — 

Lean  over  them  secure, 

And  moon-like,  mild  and  sure, 

Her  course  keep  calm  and  strong. 


[17] 


LIPS    OF   MUSIC 


THE    ROCK    POOL 

JjENEATH  the  siren  sea  who  dares  to  peer 
And  know  the  magic  of  her  very  face? 

But  in  the  rock  pool  for  her  lovers  dear 
She  leaves  her  likeness  in  a  locket's  space. 

Within  that  limpid  lens  her  lovers  read 
By  iridescent,  shifting,  gleaming  traces 

Of  tiny  tentacle  and  wavy  weed, 
The  sorceries  of  her  Medusa  graces. 


THE    STAR-SOWN    NIGHT 

A  HE    stars    from    Heav'n    seem    falling 

tow'rd  the  Isle, 

Thick-sown  and  poised  mid-air  — 
World-seeds   the   Sower's   hand   impels,   the 

while 
They  quick  in  flower  flare! 

[18] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


THE    VEILED    AURORA 

EARTH-WRAITHS  bewitch  and  blur  the 

Sky's  pure  face, 
Yet  cannot  mask  her  soul; 
The  spreading  haze  but  dims  the  Moon's 

clear  grace, 
Her  beams  transfuse  the  whole. 

Then  streaming  up  the  pinnacles  of  Space, 

Auroral  light-waves  roll, 
High  Heaven's  bended  head  they  overlace 

With  shimmering  aureole. 

Above  the  reek,  like  Earth's  good  Angel  there 

Abode  the  spectral  white; 
The  lower  air  but  hid  the  vigil  fair 

That  blessed  the  sudden  sight. 

Pierce,  pierce !  thou  vision  of  the  upper  air, 

Alive  in  spirit-light, 
Hold  me,  unbaffled  in  thy  presence  rare 

By  phantoms  of  Earth's  night! 
[19] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

THE  ISLAND  AT  THE  CLIFFS 

ELSEWHERE  as  here  she  hath  beauty  and 

charm, 

Elsewhere  hath  gramarye  sylvan, 
Elsewhere  her  Heart  she  uplifts  pure  and 

warm; 
Here  she  exalteth  her  Spirit. 

Elsewhere  as  here  her  grave  lover  the  Sea 
Greets  her  with  music  and  magic; 

Here,  they  meet  holily,  bowing  the  knee, 
Feeling  the  Infinite,  —  near  It! 


[20] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 

"BURNING-OFF"  OF  THE   FOG 

1  SAW  the  wayward,  moody  Island  breathe 
Out  filmy  breath,  like  hopeless  gray  clouds 

drifting, 
I  saw  the  hopeless  clouds  flare  forth  and 

wreathe 

Out  sudden  airy-shapen  trumpets,  lifting 
Their  windy  lips  to  blow  against  the  sun, 
And  far  to  sea,  a  rosy  music  won 
From  melancholy  mastered:  for  my  ear 
Too  fine  the  lauds  my  list'ning  soul  can  hear, 
But  my  rejoicing  eyes  their  might  behold  — 
The  numbing,  muffling,  mourning  mist  up- 
rolled, 

Vanquished  is  all  faint-heartedness  and  dolor 
By  clear  exultant  clang  of  conquering  color! 


[21] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

WHEN  THE  GODDESSES   MET 

1VJ.Y  Angel  surely  called  me  from  the  deep 

Of  disembodied  sleep, 
And  so  the  Soul  within  mine  eyes  arose 

From  her  pure,  still  repose, 
And  faced  as  one  forevermore  new  born 

The  marvel  of  that  Morn :  — 
Between  Night's  hushing,  violetted  dream 

And  Dawn's  first  clarion  beam, 
Enwoven  round  in  rosy,  streaming  wings, 

Apollo,  waiting,  flings, 
Dissolving  Hecate's  mystic  glancing  horn 

With  Aphrodite  borne, 
Burning  in  joy  together,  onward  sweep 

In  splendor  up  the  steep. 


[22] 


THE   GREEN  BIRD 


THE    BURTHEN 

IVEEP  me  in  tune  with  all  the  powers  that 

work, 

And  sing  the  World's  good  will ! 
Let  beat  of  flood  and  ebb,  sunshine  or  murk 

My  day's  deeds  spur  and  thrill,  — 
Grave  joys,  that  in  the  World-song's  burthen 

lurk, 
My  steadfast  Soul's  song  fill! 


[23] 


LIPS    OF  MUSIC 


MOON    TOIL 

\J  a  thousand  clouding  troubles 

Shall  you,  like  the  Moon,  pace  through; 
When  the  old  throng  is  surmounted, 

Like  her,  shall  you  front  the  new 
Circling  thicker  to  impede  you. 

So  she,  steadfast,  steering  true, 
Kept  undaunted  on  her  circuit, 

Climbing  Heaven,  cloaked  from  view, 
Trackless  in  great  wastes  of  splendor, 

While  Night's  imps  about  her  drew,  — 
Flitting  wraiths,  grotesque  chimseras, 

Malice-multiplied  that  grew:  — 
Drifting,  dreary,  Earth-mist  monsters  — 

Needed  they  her  Heav'n  to  strew,  — 
Scudding  over  luring  pureness, 

Smirching  what  must  them  subdue? 
Yes;  to  purge  Air,  Earth  enhallow 

When  she  triumphs  in  the  blue! 

[24] 


THE   GREEN  BIRD 

THE  HARVEST  OF  REST 

J[  HE  fog,  the  gray  sun  overswept 
And  shut  in  daylight  ever  thicker, 
The  night,  the  fog  then  overcrept, 
Nor  let  one  starry  eyelid  nicker. 

The  silence  even  fell  asleep 

In  Night's  withdrawnmost  dreamy  dwell- 
ing, 
So  Rest  might  Being's  forces  steep, 

And  quicken  to  supremer  telling 


The  joys  of  Life,  that  but  to  reap 

The  vasts  of  Quiet  lay  there  darkling; 

Till  strong  with  slumber  from  the  Deep 
Dawn  rose  on  dazzled  wide  seas  sparkling: 

[25] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

The  shining  Forest  flashed  awake, 

His  goodly  green  boughs  gladly  swinging; 
Life's  Joy  in  all  things  moved  and  spake, 
And  sprang  within  me  —  seeing,  singing! 

O  Rest  and  Quiet  golden  harvests  make !  — 
Rich  gifts  on  souls  reserved  the  gray  gods 
shake! 


[26] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


THE 
WATERS   UNDER  THE  EARTH 

JL  HE  veins  of  Earth  with  ichor  flow  — 

The  calm  clear  blood  of  gods : 
The  crystal  silver  to  and  fro 

Beneath  the  passive  purblind  clay 

And  heavy-lidded  sods, 
Diviningly  feels  out  the  way 
And  animates  the  sudden  sway 
Of  life  within  each  embryo. 

With  tendril-slender  flowing  force 

The  drowsing  germens  stir 
And  tides  of  Being  swell  and  course 

Self-sure  in  each  as  kind  must  move, 
Nor  ever  can  it  err; 

No  growth  but  shall  fruition  prove, 
No  change  but  shall  the  traits  behove 
The  Waters  christened  from  their  Source. 
[27] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


THE  DAY'S  NURTURE 

O  DRINK  the  purling  dawn,  my  Soul, 

drink  deep! 

Devour  the  mellow  day's  maturing  fruit; 
Let  gladness  in  the«  like  the  Sun's  fount  leap, 
And  ripeness  crown  thee,  from  that  living 
root! 


[28] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


A  BREATH  OF  AIR 

"\VlND-WINNOWED  air,  storm-pure! 

But  with  the  Sea's  salt  drive, 

The  Fir-wood's  breath,  alive! 
Caught  up  within  thy  lure, 
Earth's  attar  thou  dost  hold,  — 

The  very  soul  of  things 

Soars  on  thy  vagrant  wings, 
Rests  in  thy  fragrant  fold! 

O  catch  thou  up,  and  lift 

The  fire  the  body  burns, 

When  breath  as  incense  yearns 
Far  on  thine  upward  drift! 
Winnow  the  Wind  of  Will! 

Lift  it  past  bound  and  range 

Of  drag,  or  check  or  change, 
The  Spirit's  reach  to  fill!  — 

[29] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

So  Earth-forgetting  Isles 

Far,  Sea-allured  sail, 

Till  in  Heav'n's  blue  they  pale, 
And  Light  enraptur'd  smiles. 
Where  boundless  air  beguiles, 

The  moor'd  Worlds  sing  and  spin; 

Breath-wafted  Spirit!  win 
Where  Soul  all-reconciles. 


[30] 


THE   GREEN   BIRD 


ISLAND    MAGIC 

.APART  from  din  of  cities,  stir  of  men, 

The  pure  bright  summer  through, 
I  leave  the  singing  surf-wreathed  Isle,  and 
then, — 

I  am  an  Island,  too! 
I  feel  the  Sea's  arms  clasping  me  around, 

I  hear  song  learned  of  her, 
Apart,  although  within  the  City's  bound, 

And  safe  from  din  and  stir. 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 


SELF-SUFFICEMENT 

WHILE   the  Day  was   preparing   her 

splendor,  I  slept; 

I  was  housed  while  the  storm-bow  was  plot- 
ting the  spring  of  his  arc. 
Did  I  see  the  night-primrose  in  smith-work 

adept 
Forge    her   beads,    bleeding   gold,    chaining 

anthers  to  stigma,  ere  dark? 
I  peered  close,  yet  the  magic  she  wrought 
Still  my  eyes  never  caught. 

For  no  marking  of  mine,  for  no  wages  or 

show 
Was  Earth  moved  from  her  stealth  of  devising 

the  beauty  of  life ! 

Well  sufficed  her  the  passion  for  making, 
aglow 

[32] 


SELF-SUFFICEMENT 

At  each  sway  of  her  finger-tips,  willing  the 

strife 

Of  the  Artist  with  matter:  —  pure  fire! 
Light  in  me,  like  desire! 

I  exult  in   the  proud   self-sufficement  of 

Earth, 

In  the  recklessly  reticent  craft-work  of  mid- 
night and  morn, 
In  the  sculpturing  urge  of  the  sea,  in  mere 

mirth 

Spending  rapture  on  islets  unheeding,  un- 
peopled, forlorn;  — 
Let  me  follow  my  soul's  best  behoof, 
As  self-sure,  as  aloof! 


[331 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


EARTH'S    ARTISTS 

A  PAINTER  Autumn  is,  whose  brush 
Shows  earth's  hot  heart  in  each  cool  rush, 
Each  bush  flames  underfoot,  each  tree  — 
A  tossing  torch  —  flares  high  and  free, 
Each  plant  would  all  a  flower  be. 

A  Sculptor  Winter  is :  his  hand 
With  icy  chisel  carves  the  land; 
He  bares  earth's  pureness  to  the  light, 
His  keen  strokes  shape  with  rigor  right 
The  sudden  goddess,  hushed  and  white. 

Earth  listens:  her  Musician,  Spring, 
Afar,  and  timid,  thrills  his  string: 
The  goddess  melts,  —  a  girl  descends; 
Those  stars  —  her  eyes,  on  his  she  bends, 
And  deathless  hope  his  luting  lends. 
[34] 


EARTH'S   ARTISTS 

But  when  the  girl  a  woman  turns, 
Within  her  soul  all  music  burns; 
Her  Poet,  Summer,  sings  the  word 
Her  spirit  had  but  inly  heard, 
And  life  to  know  Life's  joy  is  stirred. 


[351 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 


THE    BEAT    OF    A    WING 

UN  and  on!  hurling  through 

Fainting  spaces  of  tranquil  blue, 
I  beheld  in  the  Vast,  remote  and  high, 

Soaring  lonely,  a  strong  bird  fly. 

Oh,  the  sight  was  a  song, 

Only  no  words  belong 

To  a  call  of  the  spheres; 

Only  eyes  waken  ears 

To  a  song  the  gaze  hears. 

Who  will  witness  it?     You! 
Heed   the   hushing   song,  —  see   the   singing 
sight 

Of  a  lonely  bird's  flight 

Through  the  sky's  silent  arc! 
Lo!  with  strain  of  the  effort  the  wings  shrink 

dark, 

[36] 


THE   BEAT  OF  A  WING 

With  the  beat  of  each  motive  they  droop,  drop 

stark, 
Of  the  glory  bereft,  the  color,  light, 

While  they  pulse  the  most  might, 
Living  buds  of  winged  flower 
Urging  on  the  ripe  hour! 
Ah!  the  bloom  of  the  effort  now  opens  them 

bright! 
See,  oh,  see!    Beat  of  motive  now  blossoms 

them  white, 
And  the  feathery  petals  fling  wide  rays 

From  the  heaven-lit  ways 
To  the  founts  of  desire  in  the  solar  blaze! 


I  37] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THOSE    BROWN    MUMMERS 

I  SUSPECT  the  rocks  of  feeling: 
See  those  mummers  by  the  shore! 

Yes;  they  practise  double-dealing, 
Those  brown  mummers  by  the  shore. 

Oh,  I  watched  them  while  they  waited,  — 
While  the  tide  was  round  them  wheeling,  — 

For  the  wave  to  wash  them  o'er,  — 
Flash  its  cool,  wet,  dripping  fingers, 
With  the  touch  that  slips  and  lingers, 

Through  their  sea-weed  beards  all  lank, 
Drooping  down  their  stolid  chins,  — 

Though  they  seemed  to  stare  all  blank,  — 
Stricken  stony  for  their  sins,  — 
Yet  with  yearning  were  they  kneeling, 

Praying  Love  with  hearts  unsated, 

Craving  Life  forever  more! 
[38] 


THOSE   BROWN   MUMMERS 

And,  when  all  the  tide  was  reeling 
Passionate  on  them,  then,  I  saw 

How    their    beards    wagged,     how    they 

laughed, 

Great  draughts  of  uncaution  quaffed, 
And  were  glad  to  be  unstable, 
All  unmoored  and  all  unable 
To  pretend  the  fixed  is  law! 

I  suspect  the  rocks  of  feeling 

All  Life's  unrest  to  the  core, 
I  suspect  of  double-dealing 

Those  brown  mummers  by  the  shore. 


[39] 


LIPS  OF   MUSIC 


WEATHER  WISDOM 

JjEAR  Earth!  how  lovable  thou  art  to-day! 

How  dreamily,  yet  warily  aware, 
Beneath  the  magic  of  thy  hand's  warm  sway, 
The  pliant  waters  shimmeringly  play 

All  round  the  sun-kissed  strand! 
But  this  thy  hand  was  feverish  yesterday, 

And  heavily  oppressed  the  sea  to  bear 
Its  heat,  while  with  a  grasp  of  brass  it  lay 
On  winds  too  faint  to  thrust  the  spell  away, 

And  heal  the  sun-pierced  land. 

And  angry  was  thy  grip  the  day  before, 
When  all  the  wild  winds,  warring  with  the 

Sea, 

No  truce  obeyed  nor  cruelty  forbore. 
Yet,  Earth!  what  fault  soe'er  of  aught  day 

more 

Could  mar  thy  flowing  plan  ? 
[40] 


WEATHER   WISDOM 

The  fierce  days  wrest,  as  prize,  the  days  most 

rare 
From  thy  large  clasp;  in  warmth  hatched 

stealthily, 

A  brood  of  rude  days  rise  from  days  most  fair. 
Oh,  who  from  all  thy  moods  finds  one  to  spare. 
Nor  mar  thy  flowing  plan! 


t'4iJ 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


THE  MIRACLE  OF  SPRING 

J.  HE  laughing  little  waves  Love's  will  out- 
ran:— 

Could  any  steeds  less  subtle  race  so  well 
As    these    curved    sea-lips    kissing    round 

Love's  shell? 

Her  flying  cherubs,  fleeting  as  they  can, 
With  puffing  cheeks  may  only  steer  and  fan 
The  secret  breezes  that  unseen  impel 
Her  shallop  on,  and  they  but  heed  the  spell 
That  stings  her  heart  for  Earth  —  dear  home 
of  man. 

O  quicken  new  the  miracle  of  Spring! 

Ride,  Love,  all  glowing  from  thy  far  sea- 
home! 

Rise,  Earth,  to  clasp  her  in  thine  arms 
and  thrill 

[42] 


MIRACLE   OF   SPRING 

With   breeze-born    touches,    buds   of   spirit- 


wing! 


Then  let  thy  breast  enfold  Love's  fire  and 

foam, 

Thy  living  vesture,  Love's  bared  beauty 
fill! 


[43] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


MOON    GLAMOUR 

JLS  this  the  land  we  knew  day  after  day? 
Can  this  be  common  grass  earth-rooted  fast? 

Or  this,  the  well-defined  familiar  bay, 
Whose  every  isle  and  cove  the  chart  had  cast 
With  reckoning  marked  where  land-locked 

channels  passed? 

No,  this  for  all  the  worlds  is  water-way 
Through  dreamed-of  realms  where  death- 
less elves  hold  sway; 

No  eye  descries  them,  only  ears  that  listen 
Catch  the  light  laugh  afloat  past  leaves  that 
glisten. 

The  Soul  once  loved  this  wonder,  long  ago, 
Shared  converse  with  these  elves  no  eye  hath 

seen, 

Winged  wide  free  flight  where  these  strange 
sea-ways  flow, 

[44] 


MOON  GLAMOUR 

Divining  what  the  wistful  waves  would  mean, 
When  down  to  them  the  faint  stars  seem  to 

lean; 
Ay!    This  ecstatic  light  where  swooneth 

Space 
In     poured-forth     rapture     brimmed     to 

Heaven's  face 

Is  the  Soul's  gaze  transfiguring  with  glamour 
This  frame  of  Earth  whose  soul  doth  Soul 

enamour. 


[451 


LIPS  OF   MUSIC 


AWARE 

JL/ONG  moonlit  nights  I  watched,  to  slowly 

taste 

How  perfect  minutes  in  each  minute  melt. 

And  now,  long  moonlit  nights  in  sleep  I  waste; 

Yet  all  my  dreams  their  flowing  calm  have 

felt 

Soothing  the  passion,  silvering  the  rose 
Of  life  that  still  through  darkened  eyelids 
glows. 

Quiet    serene!     still    hold    me,  —  heed    my 

prayer;  — 

Ye  kept  my  nights  awake,  keep  them  aware! 
Let  conscious  bliss  my  resting  spirit  bathe, 
And    consecration    white    my    whole    soul 

swathe ! 

[46] 


DAYLIGHT 

And  God  said,  "Let  there  be  light!" 

Jl/VERY  day  the  river  dreams, 

Muddy  ebb  and  all. 
Every  day  the  city  gleams 

Through  the  smoky  pall. 
Every  day  my  light  within 
Laughs  at  little  human  sin, 
Smooths  the  darkened  brow 
With  its  glad  "How  now!" 
Sin  and  smoke  and  turbid  streams 
Glow,  embraced  in  sudden  beams, 
Lifted,  lighted,  shining-shod, 
In  the  footing  light  hath  trod, 
Freed  from  any  thrall. 
Love!  thy  light  thus  crowns  a  soul 

[471 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Till  the  flaws  enhance  the  whole 

And  the  spirit  laud; 
All  the  faults  ye  would  destroy 
Glister,  melt  in  light,  in  joy, 

Of  the  ray  from  God! 


[48] 


AIRS    OF    SPRING 

AlRS  of  Spring! 

Sway  and  swing, 

Free  and  fling 

The  scarce  unfurled  green  banners  of  the 
trees ! 

Playful  breeze! 

Toss  and  tease, 

Loose  and  seize 
The  curling  plumed  white  pennons  of  the 

clouds 
Now  straying,  and  now  scampering  in  crowds 

Across  the  blue, 

Alive  with  you, 

Airs  of  Spring! 

Airs  of  Spring! 
Stir  and  sting, 
Will  and  wing 

[49] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Out  to  the  light  all  joys  in  man  that  flow 

Ere  he  know, 

Longings  slow, 

Fires  that  glow 

And  blossom  suddenly  in  deeds  of  flame, 
Sure  of  their  right  to  be,  sure  of  their  aim; 

Man's  might  make  new, 

More  live  than  you, 

Airs  of  Spring! 


[50] 


COME 

O  COME  out  in  the  Open 

Between  the  Earth  and  Sun! 
For  Life  hath  called  and  holpen 

The  buried  flowers  each  one 
To  burst  their  old  year's  leafage  — 

Their  grave-clods  dull  and  dead, 
And  climbing  through  the  cleavage 

To  lift  each  fairy  head. 

Could  necks  so  frail,  so  tender, 

Such  bodies  soft  and  small, 
Through  hard  ground  rise  so  slender? 

'T  is  all  a  marvel,  —  all!  — 
Unless  the  Spirit  in  them, 

Bolder  than  bodies  are, 
Doth  hearten  them  and  win  them 

To  greet  the  great  Day-star; 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Unless  Desire  below  them 

In  Earth's  deep  breast  of  love 
Pour  through  and  overflow  them 

To  meet  the  love  above. 
O  come  out  in  the  Open, 

Ye  human  flowers  each  one !  — 
To  grace  and  force  be  holpen,  — 

Re-born  twixt  Earth  and  Sun! 


152] 


THE    FLOWER    ANSWERS 

The  Man  speaks:  — 

LlTTLE  Flower,  art  thou  lonely,  — 
Hand  to  pluck  awaiting,  Dear? 

Spending  life  in  craving  only, 
Lacking  guest  to  reap  thy  cheer? 

The  Flower  answers:  — 

Little  lordling,  ye  hear  dully 

My  voice  chord  with  all  Life's  song: 

Need  I  greedy  hand  to  cull  me 
Who  to  Mankind's  God  belong? 


t53l 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE  SECRET  OF  THE  PLACE 

A.  LITTLE  path  winds  saunt'ring  to  our 

door, 

All  through  the  clover; 
Sea  touches  soothe  your  cheek  and  kiss  your 

brow, 

As  you  come  over. 
The  Sea  and  Earth  embraced  catch  you  up, 

too; 
Here  they  love  each  other.     Here  how  they 

love  —  You ! 
And  all  day  long 
A  little  bird's  song 

Interprets  you  the  secret  of  the  place: 
"  Oh!  but  life  is  sweet,  sweet! 
Life  is  sweet!     Sweet!" 

[541 


SECRET  OF   THE   PLACE 

The  Sea  is  like  a  tossing  daisy-field, 

Darkling  and  whit'ning; 
The  daisy-field  's  a  sun-flecked  sea  of  foam, 

Threatening  and  bright'ning. 
All  difFrences  there  are  beneath  the  sun, 
How  they  melt  in  music!    How  they  here  are 
-One! 

Where  all  day  long 

A  little  bird's  song 
Interprets  you  the  secret  of  the  place: 

"Oh!  but  life  is  sweet,  sweet! 

Life  is  sweet!    Sweet!" 


[55] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


MONHEGAN 

A»  LONELY  land,  fantastic,  sphinxish, 
Full  of  freshness,  full  of  fire. 
All  day  long  the  hot  sun  woos  it, 
Kissing  pallid  flaunting  grasses, 
Thrilling  ruddy  tiny  prickles 
Armoring  sun-dew  in  its  marshes,  —  v 
In  its  still  deep-bosomed  marshes. 
All  night  long  the  witch-moon  soothes  it, 
With  white-handed  gentle  gestures, 
Lulling  it  to  half  awake  it 
So  it  keep  its  passionate  calm. 
All  the  days  long,  all  the  nights  long, 
Lovingly  the  laughing  ocean 
Round  it  flings  his  happy  arms  — 
Arms  that  loosen  in  contentment  — 
Arms  that  clasp  with  fresh  allurement  — 
[56] 


MONHEGAN 

Arms  delirious  with  pleasure, 
Keeping  yet  a  comrade's  touch; 
While  the  wild  glad  land  refrains  not 
From  response  as  free  and  flowing, 
Daring  love,  and  love  withholding, 
Ever  his,  while  still  her  own! 


I  571 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


INLAND 

iVJ.  Y  happy  eyes  have  seen 
The  Sun's  far-spreading  sheen 

Flash  its  bright  wing  and  hover 

A  joyous  blissful  lover 
Over  the  answering  sea. 

Now  may  I  turn  and  go 

Inland,  contented,  slow, 
Musing  a  lifetime's  leisure 
Over  an  inward  treasure, 

For  mine  eyes  have  seen  the  sea! 

My  happy  heart  hath  known 
The  light  deep  love  hath  thrown, 

The  instant  flame  and  vision 

Turning  all  life  elysian 

Within  the  answering  soul. 
[58] 


INLAND 

Now  may  I  turn  and  work, 

No  steadfast  toiling  shirk, 
Each  far-off  aim  the  purer, 
For  light  within,  held  surer, 

Since  my  heart  hath  known  Love's  soul ! 

Oh!     Who  yet,  having  seen  the  Sea, 

If  he  then  must  inland  go, 
Doth  not  eat  his  heart  with  yearning 

To  behold  its  ceaseless  flow? 
And  who  yet,  having  known  Love's  soul, 

If  he  then  must  parting  go, 
Doth  not  thrill  each  breath  with  burning 

For  its.  ecstasy  and  glow? 
He,  the  sea  within  discerning, 
Of  its  secret  urge  hath  learning, 

And  no  inland  calm  can  know. 


[59] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

ISLE    AU    HAUT 

V^/H!  a  million-million-masted  ship, 
With  millions  of  green  sails  spread, 
A  prow  of  rock  to  the  tide's  fierce  lip, 
And  song  at  each  mast-head,  — 
A  prow  of  rock 
Where  the  breakers  flock, 
And  song  to  fling 
Where  the  sea-birds  wing,  — 
Song  of  the  trees, 
Song  of  the  breeze, 
Song  through  all  heaven  to  flow,  — 
A  green-winged,  rock-built,  soaring  ship 
Is  Isle  au  Haut! 

Oh!  a  far  sure  voyage  this  ship  fares 

On  her  swerveless  upright  keel, 
Through  measureless  seas  of  space  she  bears 
Aims  true  as  the  pole  stars  feel. 
Steady  her  helm, 
Though  the  wild  waves  whelm. 
[60] 


ISLE  AU   HAUT 

More  firm  her  quest 
For  their  huge  unrest; 
Vary  and  flaw 
Fixes  the  law 

Whereby  all  staunch  ships  go. 
A  tireless  voyage  dauntless  dares 
This  Isle  au  Haut! 

A  deep-eyed  angel  bares  her  brow 

Where  the  light  spray  leaps  and  laughs, 
And  the  gaunt  cliff  at  the  giant  bow 
The  sea's  wine  thirstily  quaffs,  — 
The  sea's  strong  wine 
In  the  wide  sun  shine, 
Or  swooning  calm 
Of  the  moon's  white  balm; 
Stormy  or  still, 
Good  is  the  will 
In  the  angel's  eyes  aglow, 
God-wise,  God-sure  she  guides  the  prow 
Of  Isle  au  Haut! 

[61] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


WITH  WAVES  AND  WINGS 

\^J  WAVES  and  Wings  and  Growing  Things! 
As  through  the  gladdened  sight  ye  flow 

And  flit  and  glow, 

Ye  win  me  so 

In  soul  to  go, 

I  too  am  waves,  I  too  am  wings, 
And  kindred  motion  in  me  springs. 

With  thee  I  pass,  glad  growing  grass!  — 
I  climb  the  air  with  lissome  mien; 
Unsheathing  keen 
The  vivid  sheen 
Of  spiring  green, 
I  thrill  the  crude,  exalt  the  crass 
Fine-flex'd  and  fluent  from  Earth's  mass. 
[62] 


WAVES  AND   WINGS 

And  impulse  craves  with  thee,  Sea  Waves!  — 
To  make  all  mutable  the  floor 

Of  Earth's  firm  shore, 

With  flashing  pour 

Whose  brimming  o'er 
Impassion'd  motion  loves  and  laves 
And  livens  sombre  slumbering  caves. 

Then  soaring  where  the  wild  birds  fare, 
My  song  would  sweep  the  windy  lyre 

Of  Heaven's  choir, 

Pulsing  desire 

For  starry  fire, 

Abashing  chilling  vagues  of  air 
With  throbbing  of  warm  breasts  that  dare! 


[63] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE  CHILDE  BY  THE  SEA 

Of  the  Will  of  the  Childe  and  the  Sway  of 
the  Sea  —  Of  the  counselling  Voice  of  the 
Soul  that  declareth  the  Plot  of  the  Whole 
—  And  the   Vision  that  promiseth  Har- 
mony. 

J.  HE  lips  of  the  Wooer  are  white,  — 

The  lips  of  the  wild  wooing  Sea, 
With  hisses  of  hatred  he  sharpens  his  tongue, 

Grim  is  his  glee! 
With  longing  of  loving  his  pleading  is  wrung, 

None  woos  as  he! 
From    stress    of    the    spirit  —  the    human 

birthright, 
He  lureth  the  Childe  to  be  free. 

A  kiss  on  his  lips  lies  her  Soul,  — 

The  Soul  of  the  Childe  by  the  Sea, 
Her  eyes  would  forget  all  their  innermost 
light, 

[64] 


CHILDE    BY  THE   SEA 

Freed  would  she  be 
From  stress  of  desire  and  the  human  insight, 

So  lured  her  he! 

With  passioning  spent  to  be  blent  with  the 
Whole, 

Full  fain  to  lose  self-hood  is  she! 

Then    besought    her   the    Sea,    and   he   cried 

wooingly: 

"One  blood  with  Mine, 
"My  unrest  Thine!"  - 

And  her  heart  rang  in  unison,  echoingly: 

"One  blood  with  Thine, 
"Thy  unrest  Mine!  — 
"For  prison'd  in  flesh  is  the  fire 

"The  Powers  that  begat  me  instil; 
"It  narrows  the  World  to  desire, 

"Yet  mocketh  the  range  of  my  will: 
"Thrill'd  through  with  the  sway  and  the 
urge 

[65] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

"Of  world-lapping,  soft-singing  surge, 

"How  good  to  merge 
"Life's  hungering,  thirsting  outgo 

"In  boundless  flow!" 

Then  the  whispering  Sea  cautioned  cunningly: 

"Forbear  thou,  like  Powers  that  begat  thee, 

to  deal 

"With  chaos,  continual  shaping  and  strife, 
"The  ceaseless  Reel 
"Of  Over-Life; 
"For  who  but  thy  Makers  can  master  that 

Wheel? 
"And  who  but  thy  Makers  from  living  may 

wrest, 
"The    might    in    the    bosom   of    Nature 

possess'd? 

"Seek  thou  thy  nest,  — 
"My  broad  bare  breast! 
"The  age-long  plan 
"But  shaped  forth  Man 
[66] 


CHILDE  BY   THE   SEA 

"To  find  him  this 
"Serene,  sure  bliss!" 

So  the  whispering  murmuring  ebbs  and  sinks 

low  in  a  hiss. 
And  it  swirls  back  subsiding  in  silence  all 

subtly  astir. 
All  its  waves  fuse  like  words  in  one  sense  and 

one  will,  seeking  her. 

The  lips  of  the  Wooer  are  white,  — 

The  lips  of  the  wild  wooing  Sea, 
With  hisses  of  hatred  he  sharpens  his  tongue, 

Grim  is  his  glee! 
With  longing  of  loving  his  pleading  is  wrung, 

None  woos  as  he! 

From    stress    of    the    spirit  —  the    human 
birthright, 

He  lureth  the  Childe  to  be  free. 

A  kiss  on  his  lips  lies  her  Soul,  — 

The  Soul  of  the  Childe  by  the  Sea; 
Her  eyes  would  forget  all  their  innermost 

light, 

[67] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Freed  would  she  be 
From  stress  of  desire  and  the  human  insight 

So  lured  her  he! 
With  passioning  spent  to  be  blent  with  the 

Whole, 

Full  fain  to  lose  self-hood  is  she! 
"One  blood  with  Thine, 
"Thy  unrest  Mine! 

"Yet  ever  a  shudder  restraineth  my  Will; 
"In  the  hiss  of  thy  kiss  glitters  treachery's 
skill." 

Then  her  Soul  called  zuithin  her,  imperiously: 

"  Forbear  thou  to  yield  me  —  thy  Soul  — 
to  the  Sea: 

"The  Powers  that  begat  thee  through  me 
bid  thee  strive, 

"Creation  alone  by  thy  striving  shall  thrive! 

"On  thee  alone  falleth  the  sway  and  the 
urge 

"That  gropes  in  the  heaving  and  murmur- 
ing surge; 

[68] 


CHILDE   BY   THE  SEA 

"Ay!  all  that  it  blindly  would  seek 

1 1  Through  thee,  through  thy  Soul, 

must  it  wreak: 
"My  impetus  silent  and  sure 
"Dictateth  a  shadowy  plot 
"Thine  eyes  of  the  flesh  can  see 

not; 

"Yet  shall  it,  long  ages  endure, — 
"Endure  till  Man's  heart  warm 

the  flame,  — 
"Endure  till  Man's  will  point  the 

aim 

"And  master  the  might  he  must  never  refuse 
"Nor  force;  neither  vield  to  supinely,   nor 
bruise 

"For  pleasuring  under  the  foot, 
"But  brotherly,  lovingly  use, 
"Till  Sea  and  till  Land  and  till 

Brute 

"  Shall  reap  the  full  joy  of  the  fruit 
"Of  slow  aspiration  in  Man  — 

"Completer  of  all  they  began. 
[69] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

"Though  yet  thou  divinest  not  how 
"Thy  Soul  to  that  dream  bids  thee  bow. 
"To  no  other  leading 
"Give  ear,  nor  give  heeding, 

"Lead  thou! 

"I,  regnant  within  thee,  —  thy  Soul, 
"Shall  guide,  through  thy  Will,  and  control 

"The  dimly  seen  scheme, 
"To  shape  itself  fair  in  the  beam 
"That  shines  from  thine  unresting  dream. 


"No  Titan  unrest  of  the  Sea 
"Shall  deaden  that  unrest  in  thee: 
"Nor  ever  shall  his  longing  master 
"The  longing  in  thee  that  is  vaster: 
"To  subtler  unrest 
"Awake  in  thy  breast, 
"Let  his  then  its  just  tribute  pour,  - — 
"Increase  kindred  force  evermore! 
"Thy  Will,  for  the  Powers  that  begat  thee, 
Life's  Wheel 

[70] 


CHILDE   BY   THE   SEA 

"Shall  steer,  through  thy  dream,  for  the 
World's  livelong  weal!" 

O'er  the  far-singing  Voice  of  the  Sea  soars  the 

Soul's  Voice  she  knows, 
From  their  marriage  in  music  together  strange 

prophecy  flows. 
She  is  stung  with  it,   Pythoness-stung,   with 

God's  oracle  glows, 
To  the  blue  mounts  desire,  lost  in  light  of  the 

largeness  that  grows 
And  enfolds  it,  as  skies  in  dim  rapture  the  toss'd 

seas  enclose.  — 
Ah!  so   mounts,   so   enfolds   her   the   promise 

wrung  strong  through  her  throes, 
Springing  fair  through  long  futures  no  instant 

of  living  but  sows! 


[71] 


II 

SELENE 


LAMENTATION  MAT  NOT  BE  IN  A  POETS 
HOUSE  •  SUCH  THINGS  BEFIT  NOT  US 


FAIR-FACED  Selene,  Daughter  of  Zeus; 
accomplished  in  the,  sacred  art  of  song,  the 
wide  wings  of  whose  immortal  head  wrap  up 
the  circling  Earth,  the  light  of  whose  death- 
less brows  dwells  lingering  in  the  stream  of 
ocean  when  she  bathes  her  silver  bosom, 
while  her  far-off-sprinkling-Luster  Evening 
wears,  and  the  subtle  air  rejoices  in  the  deli- 
cate splendor;  divine  Selene,  yoking  her  glit- 
tering high-breasted  steeds  maned  with  curled 
flame!  As  she  waxes,  her  beams  exhale  un- 
speakable glory:  then  from  her  do  men  divine 
and  soothsay:  Hail,  queen!  white-armed  god- 
ess,  blissful  Selene,  serene  of  heart  and  fair  of 
tress,  whom  Muse-loved  sweet-sung  poets 
celebrate ! 

Freely  adapted  from  the  Homeric  Hymn  to  the  full 
Moon,  with  use  of  Chapman  (1616)  and  Lang 
(1905). 


PSALM  OF  THE  RED  DOORS 

0  THE  spell  of  the  Red  Doors  is  on  me, 
And  the  Psalm  of  the  Lips  chanteth  in  me! 

1  shall  never  forget  how  they  opened, 
For  their  touch  ever  singeth  within  me. 

I  was  wooed  of  the  Red  Doors  to  enter; 
With  my  soul  on  my  lips  then  I  entered, 
And  the  soul  on  my  lips  was  alive. 
And  the  wind  of  the  Portal  upcaught  me; 
It  enrapt  me  away  then  forever. 
And  the  flame  of  the  Portal  enseared  me; 
It  ensealed  me  and  seared  me  forever! 
Still  I  shake  with  the  wind  of  the  Portal, 
With  the  breath  of  the  Portal  I  quiver: 
Still  I  mount  with  the  flame  of  the  Portal, 
With  the  fire  of  the  Red  Doors  I  tremble, 
With  their  passionate  star-fire  I  flower: 
[75] 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

Ever  sheathed  is  the  flame-bloom,  enfolded, 
Ever  holy  of  heart,  ever  growing, 
Ever  holy  of  heart,  ever  fragrant; 
All  its  petals  are  pointed  together,  — 
Praying  hands  that  do  point  and  aspire: 
All  its  blossoms  are  birds  a-wing,  singing, 
All  its  fragrance  is  breath  and  desire. 
O  my  Soul  is  a  living  torch  lifted, 
Budding  flowers  of  flame  in  mid-air, 
Burning  incense  and  song  in  mid-air; 
Ever  spiring  with  blossoming  flame, 
Ever  leaping  with  quenchless  white  fire, 
Ever  restlessly  soaring  upborne 
On  the  Wings  of  the  Wind  and  the  Flame 
Of  the  open  Red  Doors  of  my  Altar, 
Of  the  Doors  of  the  Shrine  of  my  life. 

O  the  ember-red  taciturn  Portal 
Hath  enrapt  me  and  seared  me  forever, 
It  hath  seared  me  and  sealed  me  forever! 
Ay,  forever  and  ever.    Amen. , 

[76] 


LOVE'S    BANQUET, 

One  of  the  Banqueters,  singing  — 

A  OUR  Love  wine!    Pour,  pour! 
Brim  Him  more,  ever  more! 
Thrill  the  subtle  veins  of  sense, 
Flood  the  soul-house  till  the  dense 
Is  as  air, 
Vague  as  mist, 
Fierce  as  fire, 
Flung  intense 
As  a  prayer 
On  acquist 

Of  pure  desire! 

Loose  the  chains  that  weight  the  Soul! 
Fine  the  flesh  to  her  control! 
Wing!    Wing  the  whole! 

Pour  Love  wine!    Pour,  pour! 
Brim  Him  more,  ever  more! 
[771 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Another  of  the  Banqueters  rejoining,  singing 

Fear  the  God!     Fear,  fear! 
Keep  the  Vision  calm,  clear! 
Scant  Him  to  His  thirsty  lips, 
Look  you  that  His  beaker  slips 
From  His  grasp, 
Ere  the  lees 

Stain  the  draught 
And  shame  strips 
From  His  clasp 
Ecstasies 

All  spent,  all  quaffed! 
Counsel  measure!   wisdom  led, 
Fear  Love's  madness,  and,  instead, 
Give  Love  bread,  daily  bread! 
"  Fear  the  God!     Fear,  fear! 
Keep  the  Vision  calm,  clear! 

The  voice  of  Love  answering,  singing  — 

Ay!  Ay!  Ye  have  said! 

Brim  me  wine!     Feed  me  bread! 
[78] 


LOVE'S   BANQUET 

Grudge  no  wholesomeness  of  wheat 
Gradual  labor  grindeth  meet 
For  my  fare; 
Nor  the  bliss 

Sudden  strong, 
Sweet  and  fleet, 
Festal  rare, 
Let  me  miss 

When  ardors  throng, 
In  the  Earth's  womb  fostered  long, 
Through  the  brown  stalk  pushing  prong, 
In  the  grape's  globe  breeding  song ! 
Ay!  Ay!  Ye  have  said! 
Brim  me  wine!     Feed  me  bread! 

The  One  Banqueter  and  the  Other,  concordantly, 
singing  — 

Fear  the  God!     Fear,  fear! 

Keep  the  Vision  calm,  clear! 
Pour  Love  wine!  Pour,  pour! 
Pledge  Him  more!  Ever  more! 

[79] 


THE    RETICENT    STARS 

1  HE  love  Love  tells  is  but  one  gleaming 

star 

In  deeps  untold  of  stars  that  dumbly  dwell 
In  light  not  breathing  yet  to  Earth  its 

spell  — 

One  radiant  star  where  all  those  dark  worlds 
are. 

Altnough  no  space  can  Light's  sure  arrow  bar, 
They  are  so  near  God's  Touch  —  Love's 

boundless  well  — 
They  dare  not  yet  their  dazzling  secret 

tell  — 
Blazon  the  pureness  nearness  cannot  mar. 

Unerring,  sacred,  quenchless  light  of  Love! 
Thy  splendor  Night's  drooped  eyelids  feel 

and  sheathe; 

Yet  all  thy  reticent  dark  stars  afar 
[80] 


RETICENT  STARS 

In  unimagined  glory  thronged  above, 

May  through  the  hush  their  pulsing  bright- 
ness breathe, 

And,  trembling,  speak  in  but  one  gleaming 
star. 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE    HUSHED    STRAIN 

WHOSE  heart  is  torn  beneath  his  tran- 
quil cloak, 

Who  wept  at  quiet  coming  of  the  dawn, 
To  him  at  least  the  Lord  of  Heaven  once 

spoke  — 

Hushed  strain!  his  fine  ear  list'ning  holds, 
withdrawn. 


[82 


HOW  SHALL  I  MY  TRUE 
LOVE  KNOW? 

JVJ.Y  True  Love's  name  is  Pain. 

Her  black  brows  frown. 
Breath  of  her  mouth  is  Doubt: 
It  chills  her  own  fire  out. 
Where  her  lips'  touch  hath  lain 

Love's  bliss  to  crown, 
The  transport's  edge  hath  slain!  — 

Fear  smote  us  down. 

My  True  Love  Pain!     Dear  Pain! 

Wouldst  thou  with  me  I  wonder,  — 
Test  how  the  Soul  bears  strain 

The  Body  falters  under? 

Must  I  my  True  Love  know 

By  this  deep  scar?  — 
I,  craving  joy  as  air, 
Risks  free  as  frank  winds  dare, 
[83] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

From  her  doubt  learn  this  woe  — 

Myself  to  mar!  — 
And  tossed  thus  to  and  fro, 

Estrange  my  star! 

My  True  Love  Pain,  dear  Pain! 

Wouldst  thou  with  me  I  wonder, 
Prove  how  the  Soul  reaps  gain 

From  throes  that  cleave  asunder! 

Yea !     I  my  True  Love  know 

By  wounds  and  fears; 
Yet  since  of  Love  they  came, 
I  hail  them  in  Love's  name; 
I  crown  with  calm  each  throe, 

Stanch  shining  tears, 
Choose  shame  above  the  show 

Of  lighter  years. 

My  True  Love  Pain,  dear  Pain! 

Riches  of  thee  I  plunder,  — 
Such  sweetness  I  am  fain 

To  win,  —  my  Soul  hath  wonder. 
[84] 


LOVE,  HELP  THY  LIEGEMAN! 

For  a  Beatrice  Nuova,  with  lingering  memory  of  Dante's 
Ballad 

LORD  LOVE!   Go  thou,  for  me  with  her 

to  dwell 

And  foster  that  in  her  to  reap  not  seek  — 
Her  sweet  compassion,  swift  as  thou  to  know, 
What  else  't  were  best  to  hide  from  chilling 

glance :  — 

How  strange  as  life  love  is  in  me,  beyond 
All  strength  of  man  to  vanquish,  ere  again 
It  rise  unvanquished;  like  that  angel  might  \ 
The  thews  of  Israel  grew  ever  strong 
From  wrestling  with,  yet  never  threw,  and 

still 

Drew  blessing  from,  —  the  awful  kiss  of  God 
Branding   the   foeman   who   such   grappling 

dared. 
Yet  foster  not  in  her,  Lord  Love!  —  if 

this 

[85] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

She  learn  through  thee,  aught  that  may  vex 

her  peace, 

Or  trouble  her  pure  eyes,  with  pain  for  me; 
But  tutor  her  how  woe  from  thy  deep  soul 
Is  richer  than  the  shallow  happiness 
Thy  careless  shorter-lasting  moods  lets  fall 
Thy  flying  fingers;  in  whose  grasp  and  wrench 
My  heart  rests  marked,  aye  shapen  to  her  will 
In  pride,  though  scored  with  flames  of  thine 

through  her, 
The  brand  of  angel-struggle  in  my  soul. 

And  Love,  Lord  Love!  if  thou  so  far  in 

her 

Compassion  stir;  ah!  if  thy  whitest  beam 
Uncloak  like  woe  in  her,  like  strife  of  bliss 
To  chord  with  mine;  —  lead  her  to  freely 

spend 
Her  face  —  eyes  —  rapt,  on  mine;  thereafter 

what 
Twain  ways  of  life  but  we  should  conqu'ring 

march, 

Nor  fail  to  meet  forever,  parting  thus! 
[86] 


IKAROS 

JjE  loved  and  love!  —  till  out  of  joy 

A  prouder  transport  springs 
To  master  bliss,  dare  ardors  cloy, 
Dare  Soul  fling  wider  wings:  — 
Such  wondrous  wings 
Must  outsoar  God,  — 
Before  His  Face  the  Man-heart  laud ! 

Yet  if  Love  chanced  to  smile,  content; 

Or  craved  he,  quenchless,  more, 
He  alien  stayed,  though  with  God  blent, 
So  faint  a  heart  he  bore!  — 
Too  faint  heart  bore 
To  ride  the  Sphere :  — 
He  sank  to  find  his  dwelling  —  here! 


[87] 


LIPS  OF   MUSIC 


THE    SECOND    VINTAGE 

JLJ.OW  may  I  think  you  false,  Dear? 

How  can  I  call  you  light  ?  — 
'T  was  bliss  to  be  but  near,  Dear, 

Our  souls  had  such  clear  sight. 

May  what  was  once  so  true,  Dear, 

Know  any  change  indeed? 
I  scout  the  chill-eyed  fear,  Dear, 

That  makes  my  faint  heart  bleed. 

Let  me  but  free  this  anguish, 
And  yield  my  scorn  right  scope! 

Ah!  love  can  never  languish 
Although  it  lose  all  hope. 

The  rage  and  scorn  pent  in  me 
Flare  tumult  through  my  brain; 

Thine  eyes  on  mine  look  strangely: 
My  soul  is  fierce  with  pain. 
[88] 


SECOND   VINTAGE" 

Yet  doubting  love  is  treason; 

I  '11  rend  some  veil  away, 
And  find  the  gnawing  reason 

That  frets  the  old  love's  sway. 

I  wait  in  abject  weakness; 

I  probe  the  secret  truth, 
I  prove  my  pain  with  meekness, 

I  tear  my  breast  with  ruth. 

Not  Love's  deep  look,  mere  Pity's 
I  crave  —  kind  torture?  —  No! 

Too  high  were  once  our  blisses; 
I  drink  my  tears,  —  and  go! 

But  all  that  wine  divine,  Dear, 
Our  souls  quaffed  solemnly. 

I  pledge  anew  with  thine,  Dear, 
Alone,  triumphantly. 

A  victor  shall  I  say,  Dear?  — 
I  win,  whate'er  the  cost; 

But  bleed  my  heart  away,  Dear, 
For  human  comfort  lost. 
[89] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE    "UNEXPRESSIVE    SHE" 

JjEEP  blue  seas  are  certain  eyes, 
Basking  in  them  Love's  Soul  lies; 
That  strange  world  the  sense-world  flies, 

Beaming  from  them; 
Will  to  suffer  yet  to  rise; 
Energy  to  climb  the  skies, 

Streaming  from  them. 

In  those  seas  who  looks  deep  cries  — 
"All  I  hoped  would  prove  Life's  prize 
Here  exceeds  my  best  surmise!"  — 

Deeming  of  them 
Was  the  ray  to  light  the  wise, 
And  the  love  beyond  all  ties,  — 

Dreaming  of  them !  — 
[90] 


THE   "UNEXPRESSIVE   SHE" 

For  they  harden  while  you  look, 

No  deep  question  will  they  brook, 

What  you  brought  them  —  that  you  took  — 

Seeming  of  them! 
From  your  yearning  self  arise 
Those  deep  joys  Love's  wish  espies, 

Dreaming  of  them. 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


KEEPING  SCORE 

'THROUGH  many  days, 

Her  gracious  ways, 
Familiar  to  me  grown, 

In  richer  store 

Shall  heap  the  score 
Of  love  for  her  I  've  known." 

Ah!  so  I  said; 

But  nearness  led 
To  love  past  all  before, 

Until  I  knew, 

Than  now  I  do 
I  could  not  love  her  more! 


[92] 


FLITTING    JOY 

r  LITTING  Joy  drew  near  and  hovered 
Till  my  gladness  hers  discovered : 
Then  she  yielded  to  my  drouth; 
Freely  gave  her  happy  mouth 
Fragrant  with  the  sun-kissed  South, 
Mixed  with  mine  her  sun-lit  eyes 
Till  no  doubt  of  them  could  rise 
Nor  their  look  from  mine  could  stray 
Evermore,  and  —  went  her  way! 

Did  she  go?     How  strange  her  leaving! 

Flitting  so  was  scarce  bereaving: 
Mourning  o'er  it  long  and  long 
Heartens  me  and  makes  me  strong; 
Joy  I  nevermore  can  wrong, 
With  her  lips  my  words  I  speak, 
With  her  eyes  my  Heaven  seek. 
Did  she  go?  —  or  does  she  stay?  — 
Ever  with  me,  aye  and  aye ! 
[931 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


THE    BANNERS 

THY  heart  shall  hold  love  folded  in, 

As  timid  leaves  in  May 
Hold  tremblingly,  all  moulded  in, 

On  each  sky-seeking  spray, 
Through  cloud  and  cold,  through  storm  and 

calm, 

Close-crumpled  in  each  furled-in  palm 
The  banners  broad  of  June. 

Thy  heart,  as  they,  shall  curb  desire, 
Through  cloud  and  cold,  till  Sun, 

Of  ripeness  born,  unfurl  the  fire 
From  Spring's  reluctance  won: 

God's  moment  then  shall  win  the  way 

To  fling  from  timid  clasp  of  May 
The  banners  broad  of  June. 

[94] 


NIRVANA 

JVJ.Y  Heart  is  wreathed  around  with  wings, 

With  wings  close-furled, 
From  my  Heart's  brow  a  Lotus  springs, 

With  tears  dew-pearled; 
From  my  Heart's  eyes  the  tears  are  shed,  — 

Lids,  hide  the  throes! 
O  my  Heart's  lips,  on  kisses  fed, 

No  love  disclose, 

Hide  my  Heart's  Rose! 


[95] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE  WAY  OF  THE  WIND 

"So  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit." 

MY  Spirit  seized  thine  as  the  Wind  of  God 

Whence  It  wisteth  flowing, 

Where  It  listeth  blowing; 
With  swift-born  silence  and  secrecy  shod, 
We  followed  the  way  the  still  footing  trod, 
My  Spirit  and  thine,  as  the  Will  of  God, 

Nor  the  wherefore  knowing, 

In  a  transport  going! 

What  law  in  thy  Soul  then  pierced  mine  like 
Fate, 

As  it  listeth  smiting 

With  its  carven  writing? 
Wavered  the  Wind  of  the  ecstasy  late; 
Faltered  the  Music  no  music  could  mate: 
Now  plod  we  wayfaring  in  lonely  state, 

With  wings  drooped  alighting 

From  a  dream  of  plighting. 
[96] 


WAY  OF  THE   WIND 

Yet  wait  we  as  waiteth  the  passive  tide;  — 

When  it  wisteth  surging, 

As  it  listeth  merging 
The  docile  waters,  that  its  will  abide, 
Resistless  in  one  trend  who  yet  hath  tried 
To  rend  aside,  when  they  in  glory  ride, 

Well  assured,  their  scourging 

Works  the  round  earth's  purging? 

Arise  God's  wind!     Breathe  again  from  the 
deep, 

Whom  thou  listeth  sealing 

With  thy  swift  revealing! 
Bind   the  white   tide   as   thy  yoke-charger, 

sweep 

On  to  one  bliss  our  souls  of  love  who  keep 
Sacred  the  hest  that  bids  them  wait,  nor  reap 

The  great  rush  of  feeling 

Save  from  God's  lips  reeling! 


[971 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

SATURN 

IN  a  shining  space 

Her  face! 
In  other  spaces 
A  world  of  faces,  — 

Outside!  — 
As  the  rings  that  ride 
In  their  dusker  state 
Round  the  Star  of  Fate, 
Their  dim  whorl  afar 
From  the  central  star 

Alone 

My  own ! 

My  heart  of  pure  white, 
My  well-spring  of  light, 
All  the  sky  a  waste 
To  hold  thee  more  graced, 
The  shrined  and  chaste. 

O  Thou !  the  lone  moved, 
The  firm-hearted,  pure, 
[98] 


SATURN 

Immaculate,  proved 
To  abide  and  endure, 
From  whom  thunders  deep, 
Implacable,  leap,  — 
And  the  secret  might 
Of  the  Father-born 
In  blue-brilliant  night 
Lifts  her  glancing  horn,  — 
Hecate,  —  holding 
In  Thine  —  her  Sire's  name, 
The  seeds  of  live  fire, 
In  her  wide  breast's  folding, 
The  spell  of  desire, 
The  flower  of  flame, 
And  the  spirit-dower 
In  her  hands'  control 
Of  the  winds  that  scour 
Beyond  Earth's  pole, — 
In  thy  rings  embrace 
Her  face! 

Sire  Saturn,  —  thy  thunder 
[99] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Guard  ever  the  wonder! 

Immure 

In  Fate's  cincture  sure 
Forever  the  sense 
Of  the  touch  intense! 
And  Hecate,  thou, 
Who  the  Deep  can  plough 

And  spur 

The  stir 

Of  the  leaping  water,  — 
O  Father-born  daughter, 
Up-summon  the  coal  — 
Flame-seed  in  the  Soul 
When  thy  great  winds  roll! 
The  undying  ember 
Thy  look's  fecund  spell 
Shall  rouse,  will  remember 
The  God  no  gods  quell,  — 
Who  'mid  the  still  regions 
Of  starry  legions 
Girt  with  shining  hides, 

Alone-moved  abides. 
[100] 


LOVE'S    HOLY    DAYS 
THE    CHRISTMAS 

'Wo  man  hath  seen  God.  .  .  .   The  only  begotten  son 
which  is  in  the  Bosom  .  .  .  hath  declared  him." 

J.  HE  very  Christ  once  with  us  dwelt, 

Born  in  a  quiet  lowly; 
Only  a  star  sang,  and  we  knelt. 
The  meagre  room  was  holy. 

Our  lips  touched,  as  angel-wings  touch 
O'er  the  crib  where  they  hover, 

The  love  born  within  us  was  such 
As  the  Christ-child  they  cover. 

A  babe  it  was,  helpless  and  meek, 
Our  gifts  and  tendance  craving,  - 

Yet  a  god  withal,  we  must  seek 
To  find  strength  for  our  saving. 
[101] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 
THE    EPIPHANY 

"Lot  the  star  went  before  them,  .  .  .  and  they  rejoiced, 
.  .  .  and  opened  their  treasures,  and  presented  gifts,  gold, 
frankincense,  and  myrrh." 

±  HE  heart  of  the  glow  of  our  star, 

Ever  calling  us  hither, 
Is  guiding  us  on  from  afar, 
Sure  are  we  It  knows  whither! 

No  treasure  so  rich,  overwrought 

With  travail  of  the  giver, 
But,  counting  its  pricelessness  nought, 

Haste  we  on  to  deliver! 

The  gold  of  our  hearts  still  we  give, 

Yet  are  never  the  poorer; 
The  breath  of  each  instant  we  live, 

Yet  of  life  are  but  surer. 

With  fragrance  of  frankincense,  myrrh, 

Of  love's  bitterness  burning, 
From  anguish  most  keenly  astir, 

Measureless  sweetness  earning. 

[102] 


LOVE'S   HOLY   DAYS 


THE    HOLY    THURSDAY 

"And  he  said,  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto 
death.  .  .  .  And  he  withdrew  from  them,  and  prayed,  say- 
ing, 0  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from 
me!" 

A  HIS  is  anguish,  —  early,  late, 
Ceaseless  love  of  one  to  hate; 
All  unmeet  for  hearts  below; 
Only  Gods  should  bear  such  woe, 
Only  Gods  such  secrets  know. 

Such  the  anguish,  —  thine,  0  Christ, 
Piercing  love  that  far  out-priced 
Rood  and  nails  and  spear-thrust  through, 
Scorn  of  those  thy  pity  knew,  — 
Those  who  wist  not  what  they  do! 


[103] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

Shrink,  my  lips,  from  cup  of  strength 
Making  man  scarce  man  at  length; 
All  unmeet  for  hearts  below; 
Only  Gods  should  bear  such  woe, 
Only  Gods  such  secrets  know. 

Oh,  to  honor,  not  look  down 
On  the  soul  thy  love  would  crown, 
Know  the  Christ  of  flesh  and  pain 
By  compassion,  equal,  fain, 
Not  by  lonely  spirit  gain! 


[  104] 


LOVE'S   HOLY   DAYS 


THE    EASTER    EVE 

The  next  day  the  Pharisees  came  together,  .  ,  .  saying, 
That  deceiver  said,  while  he  was  yet  alive,  ...  7  will  rise 
again.  Command  therefore  that  the  sepulchre  be  made 
sure.  .  .  .  Pilate  said,  ICe  have  a  watch.  Make  it  as  sure 
as  ye  can" 

ALL-LOVING  love  is  in  his  tomb, 

Half-loves  alone  are  living; 
For  such  may  earth-born  men  yield  room, 

Denying  Heaven's  giving. 

All-loving  love  from  heaven  sent, 

Must  have  his  mission  scouted, 
And  share  what  scant-breathed  life  is  lent 

Earth-loves  that  may  be  doubted. 

All-loving  love  hath  bent  his  head 

Nor  sought  his  due  exalting 
Beyond  the  hope  those  body-led 

Allot  to  love's  assaulting. 
[105] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Earth-love  whose  life  is  through  each  child 

Renewed  with  half  defeature, 
That  knows  not  yet  the  undefiled 

Undying  spirit-nature. 

Doubt's  soldiery  gross-guards  the  tomb, 

Sees  not  above  it  hover 
Faith's  angel,  watching,  too,  till  doom 

Obey  the  Master-lover! 


[106] 


THE  ORDER  OF  PERPETUAL 
ADORATION 

THERE  is  an  Order  in  the  Church 

Permits  no  sun  nor  season, 
No  hour  nor  minute  Time  could  search, 

No  slight  nor  weighty  reason 
To  stop  the  praise  adoring  ever 

The  touch  Divine 

Whose  hallowing  none  may  dissever 
From  bread  and  wine. 

Within  the  heart  like  order  held 

Ordains  each  lesser  feeling, 
Or  sudden  joy  or  throe  up-welled 
From  deeps  of  Life's  revealing 
Shall  celebrate  and  still  assever 

The  touch  divine 

Of  Love  supreme,  forgetting  never 
Lips  once  its  shrine. 
[1071 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


IMMORTALITY 

A.LL  guarded  round  with  floating  beams 

Of  inward  light, 
My  Angel,  inly  listening,  dreams, 

With  inmost  sight: 
And  thrilling  for  a  singing  flight 

Up  visioned  ways, 
Around  her  head  an  aureole 

Of  wide  wings  rays; 
Within  them  Power  beats  and  burns, 
As  underneath  her  eyelids  yearns 

Her  dreaming  Soul. 

With  ardors  of  imagining, 

Caressed  apart, 
Deep  spirit-piercing  raptures  wring 

My  Angel's  Heart  — 
Seed-fires  that  visibly  up  start 

In  flames  of  bloom, 
[108] 


THE    VISION    OF    LOVE    IN    SLEEP. 


IMMORTALITY 

Whose  waving  blossoms  gladness  wrest 

From  rankling  gloom; 
Her  shining  brow  around  they  wreathe, 
Each  uplift  of  her  life-breath  breathe, 
Forever  blest! 


[109] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


BY    THE    SIXTH    SENSE 

V-J  I  see,  I  see  the  tears  of  blood 

In  the  lotus  bud, 
Though  it  blooms  on  thy  brow, 

O  so  whitely  now, 
Proud  Saint! 

O  I  see,  I  know 

The  stabbing  woe 

And  hidden  stain 

Of  conquered  pain, 
Dear  Saint! 

O  then  feel  with  me  how  fierce  the  wind 
When  the  wings  sprang  twinned, 
Though  they  beat  round  my  brow 
O  so  lightly,  now, 
Proud  Saint! 
[no] 


THE   SIXTH   SENSE 

Only  thee  I  show 
The  torture-throe 
And  dragging  drain 
Whence  strong  wings  strain, 
Dear  Saint! 

If  we  cancel,  thus  the  bitter  debt, 

May  we  quite  forget 
How  the  tears  still  endure 

In  the  lotus  pure, 
Proud  Saint!  — 

How  the  scar  still  stings 

'Neath  soaring  wings 

Whose  mounting  flight 

Is  thy  soul's  height, 
Dear  Saint! 

0  from  struggle  ever  wrest  we  strength 

Bringing  peace,  at  length!  — 
Be  it  so,  or  I  fear, 
Ever  lonely  here, 
Proud  Saint! 
[in] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

I  shall  strive  my  best, 
Yet  feel,  o'erpressed, 
My  wings,  thy  token, 
Fall  broken  —  broken!  — 
Dear  Saint! 


[112] 


INTERLUDE 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 


DJABAL  AND   ANAEL 

Epilogue    songs    written    to    accompany    Browning's 
"Return  of  the  Druses." 

DJABAL'S    SONG 

A.ND  am  I  not  Hakeem,  though  man? 

Needs  it  a  God  to  plot  and  plan 

And  pour  his  heart  and  brain  and  soul 

Through  lonely  patient  scheming  years,  intent 

By  small  slow  conquests  to  control 

And  bring  to  birth,  at  last,  the  purpose  meant? 

Is  it  no  marvel  earth-like  stuff 

Compacts  a  sun  night's  blackness  to  rebuff? 

A  man  who  leads  is  miracle  enough! 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


ANAEL'S    SONG 

I  KNEW  thy  secret  from  the  first, 
When  thy  heart's  fire  upon  me  burst, 
With  music  led  me  on  and  on 
Through  anguish,  gropingly  to  prove  the  clew, 
Till  sight  and  soul  in  unison 
Beheld  the  Secret  from  the  first  I  knew. 
No  triumph  with  the  God  be  mine! 
Hakeem,  in  Djabal  only,  I  divine  — 
Love  —  in  that  sin-shamed  human  breast  of 
thine! 


fii6] 


IN  PRAISE  OF  BROWNING 


loveliness,  and  all  the  fair 
In  Life,  the  perfect,  choice,  and  rare  — 

The  bloom  of  deeds 

Most  poets  tell: 

They  with  the  love  of  Beauty  swell 
The  heart  of  Man;  and  this  is  well. 
But  Browning  moves  to  love  of  Life, 
Oft-failing  yet  aspiring  strife 

Tow'rd  Beauty's  seeds  — 

The  sleeping  spore 
Such  love  of  Life  can  wake  to  soar 
Within  each  heart:  O  this  is  more! 

With  growing  light  through  ages  shine 
The  vision  of  the  Love  Divine 

Of  God  made  Man: 

So  seers  still  win 
[117] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

A  hope  for  mortals,  spite  of  sin, 

And  Life  is  bless'd  since  that  hath  been. 

But  Browning's  vivid  eye  discerns 

God  in  each  heart  where  pure  love  burns: 

Where  Spirit  ran, 

Flashing  strange  spells, 
Transcendent  love  in  might  upwells; 
God's  witness  thus  in  each  Soul  dwells. 


[118] 


TRANSLATIONS 

BERTRAND'S   SONG  TO  THE 
MARINERS 

From  Rostand's  "La  Princesse  Lointaine." 

AGAIN  then  I  tell  you  how  fair 

Is  one  we  shall  gaze  on  soon. 
The  golden  sun  laughs  in  her  hair, 

Dreams,  in  her  eyes,  of  the  moon. 

Her  floating  hair  veils  and  unveils 

A  brow  so  starlit  and  pure 
No  other  devotion  but  pales, 

All  other  love  seems  unsure. 

Her  charm  sole,  subtle,  a  flower 

Hidden  yet  haunting  the  air, 
Is  charm  of  a  saint,  with  power 

Of  a  sorceress  to  snare. 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

And  simple  ways  her  will  behooves, 
But  rich  resources  on  them  wreaks, 

She  like  a  swaying  blossom  moves, 
Like  a  forest  spring  she  speaks. 

So  fair,  and  yet  half  faerie, 

Surely  Frank,  yet  Moabite, 
Is  Melissinde  of  Tripoli 

In  her  palace  whelmed  in  light. 

And  thus  we  there  shall  see  her  soon, 

Unless  all  lies  the  tattling 
Of  pilgrims  false,  their  cloaks  and  shoon 

With  scallop  shells  all  rattling. 


[120] 


TRANSLATIONS 


MILA  'S    SONG 

From  D'Annunzio's  "La  Figlia  di  Jorio." 

JjIDED  mute  the  patron  angel 
From  the  walnut  woodblock  carven, 
Deaf  the  wood  stayed,  secret,  sacred, 
Saint  Onofrio  vouchsafed  nothing. 

Till  said  one  apart,  a  third  one 
(O  have  pity  on  us,  Patron!) 
Till  said  one  apart,  the  fair  one, 
Lo!  my  heart  all  willing,  waiting! 

Would  he  quaff  a  draught  of  marvel? 
Let  him  take  my  heart's  blood,  quaff  it! 
But  of  this  make  no  avowal, 
But  of  this  make  no  revealing. 

Suddenly  the  stump  budded  branches, 
Out  of  the  mouth  a  branch  sprang  budding, 
Every  finger  budded  branches, 

Saint  Onofrio  all  grew  green  again! 
[121] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


DEDICATORY  PRAYER 

From  D'Annunzio's  "La  Nave." 

HEARKEN,  Lord  God,  tremendous,  dire, 

Cry  of  our  Sires'  stupendous  ire 

Battling  on  deck:  This  I  kindle  with  fire 

is  the  Beacon  and  Pyre. 
'Twixt  Pola,  Albona,  hard  by  Quarnaro, 
The  bold  pine  I  cleft,  the  bay's  bitter  marrow 
And   the  sacred  oak  with  twin-edg'd  steel 
arrow 

of  wedge-axe  narrow. 

And  when  the  wood  of  the  masts  over  casting 
And  wood  of  the  hull  with  wreaths  everlasting 
Victory's  wreaths;  —  ah!  then  I  remembered 

all  of  our  dead 

Gulfed  in  the  Deep,  all  of  our  dead 
Gulfed  in  the  swallowing  Deep  that  fed 

on  the  brave  in  their  caravels: 

[122] 


TRANSLATIONS 

But  said  I:  O  God  of  birth  and  renewals 
Of  stocks  by  Sea,  and  of  ruins  and  strewals, 
The  living,  living,  shall  they  ever  be 

who  upon  the  Sea 

Shall  magnify  Thee,  who  upon  the  Sea 
Shall  glorify  Thee,  who  upon  the  Sea 
Burn    myrrh    on    Thine    altar    and    blood- 
sacrifices 

Where  the  Ship's  beak  rises. 
0  make  Thou  of  all  of  the  Oceans  Our  Sea! 

Amen. 


[123] 


Ill 

HECATE 


DEATH     IS     EVIL     •     THE     GODS     HAVE 

SO    JUDGED    •    HAD    IT    BEEN    GOOD 

THEY    WOULD    DIE 

— SAPUO 


I  125  1 


HECATE 

I  CALL  Hecate  of  the  Ways,  of  the  Cross- 
ways,  of  the  Darkness,  of  the  Heaven  and 
the  Earth  and  the  Sea;  saffron-clad  goddess 
of  the  grave,  exulting  amid  the  spirits  of  the 
dead,  kindling  new  life,  Perseia,  lover  of 
loneliness,  Hecate  of  the  shining  head-tyre 
.  .  .  thinking  delicate  thoughts;  Queen  who 
holdest  the  Keys  of  the  World,  ...  be  pres- 
ent at  our  pure  service  with  the  fulness  of 
Joy  in  thine  heart. 

From  Orphic  Hymn,  as  given  by  Gilbert  Murray, 
and  Homeric  Hymn  to  Demeter. 


[126] 


THE    TRAGIC    RAPTURE 

\VlNNOW  me,  Life!  winnow  and  sift  me! 
Harrow  me,  Fate!  harrow  and  lift  me! 
Hallow  me,  Love!  wring  me  and  rive  me! 
Aught  but  the  best,  purge  me  from,  shrive  me! 
Lightning-sure  Aim!  nothing  less  shift  me! 
Lightning-sure  Touch!  thrill  me  and  gift  me! 
Life!  smite  thy  tragic  full  chord  in  me, 
Let  it  be  potently  lord  in  me, 

Through  my  soul  glorying  float; 

Pour  through  my  triumphing  throat 

Song  of  the  dominant  note! 


[127] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


AMULETS 

IF  thou  shalt  ever  see  with  inner  sight, 
No  outward  gaze  of  thine  but  will  be  bright, 
Kindling  in  thee  and  all  who  meet  thee  — 
light! 

If  thou  shalt  ever  feel  with  heart  awake, 
No  sin  and  tears  but  shall  thy  sorrow  slake, 
And  round  the  evil  good's  fair  halo  make. 

MASTERY 

SOMETIMES,  alone,  along  the  peak, 
The  Angel  in  me  hears  God  speak; 
Sometimes,  unknown,  it  journeys  down 
And  strives  among  men  in  the  town. 

Sometimes,  it  is  so  strong,  I  bear 
God's  word  to  me  where  all  men  fare: 
O  best!  if  in  the  battling  street 
Life's  harshest  voice  to  me  rings  sweet! 
[128] 


WORK    DAY    PRAYERS 

GOD  of  Love,  God  of  Work!    Touch  me 

with  fire! 

For  all  dross  within  me,  fill  me  with  ire!  — 
So  with  pure  passion  I  cleave  to  my  Star, 
Speed  my  work,  daily,  toward  the  mark  — 

far! 

God  of  Love,  God  of  Work!    Breathe  in  me 

-air! 
Blue  and  breeze-swept  spaces  brighten  my 

care! — 

So  each  swirl  of  effort  leave  my  hand  calm, 
So   each   heart   meeting   mine   only   feel  — 

balm! 


[129] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


HOLY    DAY    PRAYERS 

GOD  of  Light,  God  of  Joy!     Kindle  my 

gaze!  — 

So  it  dart,  arrowy,  threading  the  maze 
Glooming,  confusing  my  soul's  right  and  rash 
Gleam  to  Thy  Heaven  it  sees  in  one  flash! 

God  of  Light,  God  of  Joy!    Bless  thou  my 

bliss 

Arrogance,  shrivel!  —  lest  mar  I  or  miss 
Joy  of  heart-joy  in  the  sudden  capture  — 
Sharing  on  earth  here  the  human  rapture. 


[130] 


A  GLAD   LITTLE   SORRY   SONG 

v-JH,  full  cause,  full  cause  have  I 
To  be  sorry,  to  be  sad; 

Yet  my  tears  are  —  almost  dry !. 
And  my  soul  in  me  is  singing, 
And  my  will  is  clinging,  clinging 

To  long  plans  it  has  to  try  — 
Plans  for  all  a  future's  bringing! 

Oh,  what  cause,  what  cause  have  I 
To  be  sorry,  to  be  sad, 
Who  am  still  so  glad,  so  glad, 

Quite  without  a  reason  why? 


LIPS    OF   MUSIC 


MAN'S    CRADLE    SONG 

To  the  World-Mother  —  Life. 

O  THOU  World-Mother,  Life !    Press  me 

close  to  thy  breast! 
I  would  nourish  my  lips  with  thy  milk  — 

human  kindness: 
And  be  lulled  with  thy  murmurs  to  halcyon 

rest, 
I  would  nest  in  thy  breast  with  true  faith's 

profound  blindness,  — 
And  awake,  I  would  take,  with  a  will,  task 

and  strife, 
If  thou  nurture  me,  cradle  me,  mother  me, 

Life! 

fO  thou  World-Mother,  Life!     Mould  me 
meek  to  thy  plan, 
[132] 


MAN'S   CRADLE   SONG 

I  would  shrink  from  no  dint  of  thy  hand's 

hardest  pressing, 

If  it  shaped  me  to  use  in  the  service  of  Man, 
I  would  know  all  the  woe  for  my   Soul's 

caressing, 
That  would,  soothed,  tremor  smoothed,  rule 

the  cure  of  Pain's  knife;—- 
If  thou  chastened  and  scourged,   but   to 
mother  me,  Life! 

O    thou    World-Mother,    Life!     Tell    me 

stories  of  yore! 

I  would  watch  thy  lips  move,  I  would  see 
thine  eyes  glowing: 

Till  thy  marvel  and  vision  each  new  morn- 
ing more 
Spurred  my  will  to  fulfil  thy  heroical  showing: 

Then  requite  thy  child-knight  for  his  day 
with  deeds  rife;  — 

Then  embrace  me,  and  lavish  thy  love  on 
me,  Life! 

[133] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


THE    HEARTH    FIRE 

ELOQUENT  heads  of  haughty  trees, 
Talking    with    clouds,    wreathed    with    the 

breeze, 

Long  cherished  on  the  breast  of  fruitful  earth, 
Felled  for  the  pyre  be  ye,  —  shorn  for  the 

hearth ! 

Lie  ye  low,  fallen  prone, 
Bound  on  man's  altar-stone! 
The     windy     locks,     wide-tossed,     be 

furled,  - 

Let  curling  flames  in  eddies  whirled, 
Mock  with  their  narrow,  vortexed,  parching 

glare 
The  fresh  free  gestures  of  uncabined  air! 

Renounced  be  life  of  kind  and  seed! 
Let  green  fire  bleed  for  human  need, 
[134] 


HEARTH  FIRE 

The  green  fire  fertile  in  the  sun-god's  look 
Be  red  fire  barren  in  the  chimney-nook! 
Bleeding  sap,  tongue  of  flame, 
Sing  thy  joy,  sing  thine  aim!  — 
The  paeons  chant  of  living  wood,  — 
Exalted,  gods  in  lowlihood,  — 
Sibilant,  sacrificial  embers  dying, 
Jubilant  spirit-splendor  prophesying! 

And  you,  ye  flaunting  heads  of  high  desires 

Let  red  flame  sway! 
Burn  ye  to  feed  in  me  life's  purer  fires, 

And  purge  the  clay 

Down  by  the  root  close-clinging! 

Let  branching  pride  sky-springing 
To  greater  gods  of  secret  spirit-power 

In  sacrifice  be  shorn! 

Nor  shrink  nor  mourn 
The  nurture  of  life's  lesser  dower  — 
Earth's    breast,    the    beacon-sky,  —  Love's, 
Pride's  full  flower: 

O  no!  destroy,  destroy 
[  135  3 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

Sky-glory  and  Earth-clearness  so  keen  pangs 

deploy 
Life's  hidden  force  and  free  the  flame-winged 

blossom  —  Joy! 


1  136  ] 


THE    LIGHTED    FACE 

\J  P  the  street,  down  the  street,  through  the 

town  faring, 

Everywhere,  anywhere,  not  a  lane  sparing, 
Only  the  lighted  face  searching  for,  caring! 

Only  the  lighted  face;  — 

Is  the  quest  so  daring? 

Sharpened  face,  muffled  face,  face  of  boy, 

maiden,  — 

Flower  face,  not  a  trace 
Grief  or  trouble-laden. 

Pigeon  face,  vulture  face,  prinking,  or 
scheming, 

Bargain-bent,  profit-pent,  rigid  with  seem- 
ing,— 

[137] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

These  I  find;  let  me  find,  inwardly  beaming, 
Somewhere  the  lighted  face, 
Soul  from  in  it  streaming! 

Life    is    good,    aim    is    good,    deeper    soul's 

yearning 

Out  must  chase  cravings  base; 
Face!    Thy  Soul  keep  burning! 


[  138  ] 


THE    SUNLIT    SHOWER 

OQUALID  and  foul  the  city  street, 

Low'ring  the  sky  and  sour; 
Suddenly  HeavVs  compassion  sweet 

Fell  in  a  sunlit  shower, 

Sprang  from  its  heart  a  rainbow  pure, 

To  make  the  world  of  beauty  sure. 


[1391 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 


IN   THE    CROWD  — A    SONG! 

O  THROUGH  the  streets  the  crowds  go  all 
hurried,  all  harassed; 

Life  means  to  them  but  barter,  but  selling, 
spending  pelf; 

One  question  fitly  sums  it,  —  and  bent  upon 
it  passed 

The  worried  jostlers  near  me;  —  "  Now  what 
have  you  amassed? " 

O  Life  besides  means  nothing,  —  No;  noth- 
ing in  itself! 


But,  hark!  above  the  traffic,  the  good  green 

Common  near, 
Fly  past  the  first  Spring  bluebirds,  —  song 

falls  from  one  bright  elf 
I  140  ] 


IN  THE   CROWD 

Full  sure  of  life  and  loving  and  Springtime 
each  new  year. 

O  daring  flight  face  Northward  with  com- 
rades singing  cheer! 

So,  Life  means  singing,  loving,  — is  some- 
thing in  itself! 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


WORK   DAY   SUNSET   CHANT 

GRAY-BLUE  swims  the  air  in  the  sky's 

upper  height, 

Gray-blue  flows  the  sea-dreaming  river, 
Dull  red  glow  the  lights  ere  their  hour  to  shine 

bright 
Athwart  the  blue  stream  where  they  quiver. 

The  arm  of  the  Working-Day  strikes  his  last 

stroke, 

His  forge-embers  glimmer  to  Westward; 
The  swart  wolf-throat  factories  belch  their 

last  smoke, 

The  trolley-kites  screech  their  prey  rest- 
ward. 


WORK  DAY  CHANT 

All  day  wolves  and  kites  of  Life's  drudgers 

took  toll; 

They  miss  now  a  mintage  far  better;  — 
The   skill   of  the  Worker  earns  pay  in  his 

Soul,  — 
The  purpose  to  smite  off  Toil's  fetter. 

His  sigh  for  free  joy  in  work  soars  to  God's 

sky,— 

Lo,  there!  where  the  blue  glows  intenser, 
And  mixed  with  black  forge-smoke  purged 

pure,  spiring  high, 
It  breathes  out  that  prayer  in  God's  censer. 


[143] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 


CHELSEA 

"All  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life" 

(Chelsea  Fire,  April  12,  1908; 
San  Francisco,  April  18,  1906.) 

Jt)UT  one  among  a  thousand  sister  towns 

Unmarked  of  Fame,  — 
A  hive  of  life  no  excellence  renowns 

Beyond  the  daily,  tame 

Prosperity  of  lowlihood 

In  mart  and  home  and  fane,  — 
But  one  among  a  thousand  Chelsea  stood 

Beside  the  Eastern  Flood: 
Now  one  from  thousands  falls  she  branded, 
charred, 

Supremely  scarred! 

The  tragic  dignity  of  Doom's  fierce  frown 
Sears  round  her  mediocre  brow  a  crown 
[144] 


CHELSEA 

Whose  blood-red  glowing  gems  grow  cinders 
black; 

And  in  her  helpless  hand 

Calamity  doth  thrust 

The  sceptre  of  her  lack,  — 

Her  need's  grim  Must!  — 

Outstretched  to  all  the  land, 
Commanding  alms  from  ruin,  ashes,  dust. 

What  eminence  of  pain 
The  giant  hand  of  Woe  hath  on  her  lain! 

O  dear  young  Land  on  whom  such  perils  wait, 

For  what  deep  seal  and  sign 
Doth  lowly  Chelsea  to  the  Golden  Gate,  — 
Whose  town  imperial  lay  shaken  late 

Beside  the  Western  Brine, 
By  flames  in  Earth's  deep  flanks  so  doomed, 
So  scored,  so  razed,  and  utterly  consumed,  — 
Now.  echo    back    the    grisly   watchword  — 
"Fate"? 

Behold  on  what  ironic  trifle  fell 
The  semen  of  Fate's  mighty  quell! 
[145] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

A     refuse     cast-out     heap     of     rags     that 

mouldered,  — 
That    tradesmen    deemed    of    every    value 

rifled,  — 

On  that  ignoble  bed,  where  life  lay,  smoul- 
dered, 
Where     unsuspected     force     hid,     slighted, 

stifled,  — 
The  young  Spring  wind  disdained  to  touch, 

yet  fawned 
Upon;  —  there,    viewlessly    the    Fire-djinn 

spawned. 

And  as  the  Arab  Genii,  once  kept  pent 
Within  a  phial,  whining  to  be  lent 
His  freedom,  spread  his  sway 
Out  of  the  jar  with  omen  swart, 

The  sun  athwart,  — 
This  Djinn  uprears  his  crafty  head 

And  spurns  his  narrow  bed. 
His  eyes'  red  wrath  devours  his  prey, 
His   snorting   nostrils'   fumes   are   shafts   of 

smoke 

[146] 


CHELSEA 

That  pillar  up  the  sky, 
With  wings  of  wind  on-leaps  his  flail's  wide 

stroke, 
And  emptiness  is  left  to  know  it  by. 

The  startled  townsmen  scarcely  weigh  their 

woe, 

Nor  guess  how  life  may  for  them  fare 
(If  life  be  left  them!)   of  all  chattels  bare, — 

The  dear  familiar  household  ware, 
Accumulation  through  their  lives  their  care. 
But  some  who  lavished  all  of  life  in  pains 
To  have  and  hold  no  other  than  such  gains, 
To  valuations  new,  instinctive  start: 
With  all  the  toiled-for  trash  now  would  they 

part, 
The    misprised    life   they   spent    it   for,    to 

spare: 

While  others,  still  pelf-mastered,  habit-led, 
With  dullard  wit,  half  unaware 

How  imminent  the  dread, 
Scuttle  to  garner  up  and  pack, 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

With  haste  too  slow,  —  too  slow! 
Wild-eyed  or  stolid,  on  they  move, 

To  hunt  new  lack! 
The  courser  at  their  back 
O'ertakes  them  on  their  track; 
And  whom  he  wills  he  spares, 

Whom  not  he  snares; 
Nor  may  be  known  the  urn 
Where  whom  he  slew  doth  burn, 
Nor  how  another 
Out-thrived  the  smother. 
Through  scathe,  through  scape,  the  Foe 
Unshakable  yet  whimsical  doth  prove, 
Implacable  as  Hate  and  swift  as  Love. 

O  now  that  Cheisea  lies  so  low, 
The  monster  desolation  greatens  her, 
And  o'er  her  abject  grave  doth  laurels  strow. 
A  quiet  holds  her  walled  amid  the  stir 
Of  greater  Boston,  that  here  seems  to  come 
From  far-off,  throbbing  like  a  muffled  drum, 
To  make  her  stillness  mourn. 
[148] 


CHELSEA 

O  now  doth  Chelsea  boast  the  look 

Of  sites  where  pomp  hath  gloried,  — 
Immortal  Capitals  Time's  mace  down-strook 

And  Fame's  scroll  storied. 
The  gaping  cellar  and  foundation-stone, 

Uncumbered  bare  and  lone,  — 
Of  bounds  and  signs  of  superstructure  shorn, 
Severe,  —  content  the  eye  with  simple  show 

And  summon  up  a  state 
Commensurate 

With  her  grim  fate. 

Lo!  monumental  emblems  of  this  hap 

Stay  rooted  in  her  breast; 
Bold  monoliths  of  death-in-life  to  mark 
With  shuddering:  —  her  trees,  in  April,  stark! 
Black  from  the  mouthing  flames'  coercive  lap, 
All  hope  of  gladsome  green  from  in  them 

pressed 
Forever  out!  Against  the  April  blue 

They  rigid  write 
Memorials  in  each  man's  sight. 
[149] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

With  barren  naked  stumps  of  arms. 
No  longer  may  they  sway 

And  sing 

With  winds  of  Spring 
Their  old-time  April  way; 
Yet  now  of  what  they  dumbly  say 
The    winds    of    Spring    resounding    echoes 
borrow. 

O  Land  of  April,  hear!    The  rune  is  true 

They  moan  to  you, 
Oracular  and  stern; 
Befits  the  heart  to  learn,  — 
The  blithesome  spirit  thrill  with  deep  alarms, 
Attentive  struck,  and  heed, 
Against  a  morrow 
Of  worser  sorrow 
Sprung  from  a  subtler  seed! 

0P 

O  Land  of  April,  youngest  of  the  Earth, 
Thine  own  life-giving  April  holds  such  dearth 
Within  her  smouldered  heart. 
[150] 


CHELSEA 

The  social  refuse  of  thy  life  oppressed, 
Engend'ring  vengeance  in  its  sullen  nest, 
Can  at  the  will  that  no  man  lists  up  start 
And  from  the  scorned  neglected  swarming 

heap 
With  wings  of  Whirlwind  leap ! 

O  goodly  young  new  April-world! 
Beneath  thy  careless  trampling  feet 

That  to  and  fro 
Up-building  substance  go, 
More  palaces  and  luxuries  to  show 
How  proudly  like  the  old  world  thou  dost 

grow,  — 

Unseen,  beneath,  lurks  force  more  fleet 
Than  all  the  prospering  thou  lovest  so, 
To  prompt  the  wronged  and  reckless  with 

life-lust 
To  shake  thee  with  their  shout — "Unjust! 

Unjust!" 

To   rend   thee   whence   they   grovel   in   the 
dust,  — 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

Make  totter  thy  tall  towers,  and  mock  thy 

spires 

With  innermost  and  fundamental  fires; 
Till  things  chaotic  in  due  chaos  hurled 
Obey  the  struggling  Order  in  them  furled 

Crying  for  birth! 
Yea!    Out  from  hoards  safe  built  on  as  the 

earth 
The  Spirit  that  makes  matter  for  its  mirth 

To  use  or  else  lay  low, 
Can  crushing  ruin  for  the  worldling  breed, 
Proclaim,  by  utter  loss, 
His  treasure,  dross, — 
With  grim  derision  let  his  life-blood  bleed 

To  prove  its  higher  worth, 
Then  rise  and  light  a  better  Day  hereafter 
With  beams  of  Dawn  shot  from  that  scarlet 
laughter. 

Dear  April  Land,  thy  human  inward  life 
Hold  dear!  hold  dear! 


CHELSEA 

Black  is  the  trunk  the  life  breath  leaves 
Numb  to  the  rising  sap  that  only  weaves! 

Within  perpetual  growth. 
No  inert  product  of  thy  matter-strife 

Account  so  near 
That  thou  may'st  e'er  deprive 
For  arid  need 
Of  barren  greed 

The   growth   of  weakest   child   of  thine  — 
alive ! 

O  loath,  most  loath 

Are  these  thy  prophet-woes  at  East  and  West 
That  thou  shalt  learn  by  inward  death 

That  Life  is  best: 
Like  those  self-withered  Nations  who,  Time 

saith, 
Their  own  dishonored  children  sold 

For  gold. 

Youngest  of  Mother-nations,  blight  not  thou 
By  any  tricksters'  stealth, 


[153] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Whence    self-consuming    dooms    like    theirs 

have  sprung, 

Thy  human  for  thy  sordid  commonwealth! 
Hold  pure  the  vision  of  thine  early  vow! 
Impartial  love  shine  from  thy  morning  brow! 
Life-breath   of   all   thy   children   keep   thee 

young! : 


[154] 


DOUBLE    MOMENTS 

SUNLIGHT  lingers  .'through  the  day,  all 

day  long; 

But  in  dawn  and  twilight  dwells, 
Inter-weaves,  with  hidden  spells, 
Days  of  deed  and  nights  of  dream, 
Fuses  in  Time's  fleeting  stream 
Shining  vision,  shadowed  gleam : 

So,  together,  Night  and  Day  make  life  strong. 

Love  gives  gladness  all  through  life,  all  life 

long; 

But  love's  darkness  with  love's  glow 
Lift  to  rapture  each  deep  throe, 
Sun  and  cloud  intensely  met, 
Mingling  splendor  with  the  threat, 
Magic  mutual  beget: 

So,  together,  bale  and  bliss  make  love's  song. 
[155] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Progress  beckoned  through  the  years,  ages 
long: 

Up  the  steep  with  laurels  spread 

One  by  one  the  heroes  led; 

One  by  one  they  scale  the  height; 

Still  far-off  the  peaks  shine  white, 

Challenging  that  moment's  might 
When  together,  heroes  mount  with  the  throng. 


[156] 


THE    MASTER-FATE 

A  POURED  out  my  heart  in  a  throbbing  lay, 

One  half-happy  day, 
And  after  I  wrote  it  a  wind  arose, 
A  trickstering  time-serving  wind  of  prose 

And  swept  it  away. 

O  far  and  away,  out  of  grasp,  —  of  reach! 

It  seemed  that  all  speech, 
Sweet  fruitage  of  song  to  redeem  the  pain, 
The  barren  soul  lost  with  that  heart-wrung 
strain : 

It  could  not  beseech: 

The  Written  was  written :  the  Lost  was  lost. 

By  Fate  calmly  crossed, 
The  grief  was  too  sore  for  a  sorrow  more. 
The  windfall  of  Fate  then  a  new  fate  bore, 

And  back  the  scroll  tossed! 
[157] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Take  counsel,  wild  Heart!    See  how  still  Soul 
stays 

Through  half-happy  days! 
By  nature  all  unaware  wise  to  wait 
The  ripening  stroke  of  the  master-Fate 

No  Fate  but  obeys! 


I  158  ] 


THE   CALL   OF   MODERN   TRAGEDY 

W  HAT  is  out  there  all  moaning,  troubled, 
With  passions  vast  on  passions  doubled, 
With  unknown  forces  darkly  tossing 
And  chartless  counter-currents  crossing? 

The  hearts  are  these  of  souls  immortal; 

Sea-way  is  this  to  Art's  high  Portal. 

But  child's  play  on  the  strand  our  playing 

While  we  were  blind  to  wrecked  hands 
praying, 

And  faces  white  like  wild  birds  swaying, 

Upturned  to  tempests,  mute,  past  speaking. 

O  leave  mere  toys,  —  small  pleasure-seek- 
ing,— 

Life's  shallows  leave;  the  full  flood  breasting, 

For  manly  Art  strive,  stern,  unresting! 

Heed,  heed  the  call!    Who  dare  clasp  sorrow 

I  159  ] 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

That      Angel     strength     grow     theirs     to- 
morrow?— 

That  Angel  joy  from  Art's  high  heaven 
Shall  every  brother's  sorrow  leaven? 
Latter-day  men,  their  God  shut  in  them, 
Await  transfiguring  shall  win  them, 
Unveil      them    where      their     new      might 
reigneth,  — 

Might    to    wax    strong    when    old     might 

waneth. 

Like  huddling  waves  their  heads  uprearing 
Darkly  to  dream  of  far  light  nearing, 
Like  wistful  waves  for  moonlight  longing,  — 
Range  upon  range  the  playhouse  thronging, 
Men  line  with  life  floors,  walls,  to  ceiling, 
And  passive,  wait  their  right  revealing ! 

As  on  black  night,  the  storm-wrack  rifting, 
Peace    from    the    Moon's    pure    face    falls 

drifting, 

So  on  Man's  sea  of  ardors  shifting 
Shine!    Tragic  Art,  for  Soul's  uplifting! 
I  160  ] 


LIFE'S   RHYMES 

"Through  worlds  and  races  and  terms  and  times 
.  .  .  musical  order  and  pairing  rhymes," 

FLUX 

' '  The  Spirit  of  God  moved  upon  the  face  of  the  Waters. 
.  .  And  God  said  Let  the  Firmament  divide  the  Waters 
from  the   Waters" 

1     HEAR    Unending    Being    sing    Life's 

rhymes !  — 
The  rhyme  with  centred  Earth  of  weaving 

Water, 
Who  vexed  Her  fixed  frame,  whose  flux 

still  caught  Her; 
Her  captive-captor  was  He  tireless  times: 

Her  world-rule  challenging  from  all  worlds' 

primes, 
Island    and    headland    carven    firm    He 

wrought  her, 

[161] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

And  trophies  won  for  Her  the  while  He 

fought  Her:  — 
So,  in  them,  likeness  with  unlikeness  chimes. 

Thrilled  through  their  battling  music,  pangs 

of  Fire 
From  her  pent  heart!   0  Mystic  breast  of 

Birth, 
Ye    only    know    wherefrom,  —  forever 

twinned, 

Swaying  the  concord  of  their  world-desire 
With  soaring  rhythms,  answering  ardent 

Earth,  — 

Played  o'er  his  restless  soul  the  wide- 
wing'd  Wind! 


[162] 


LIFE'S  RHYMES 


FORM 

'  'Let  the  dry  land  appear.  .  .  .  Let  there  be  lights  in  the 
heavens." 

CLAYED  o'er  his  restless  soul  the  wide- 

wing'd  Wind: 
With     stealthier    pinion    occult    Motion 

stirred 

The   smelted  Earth  and  Water,   smithy- 
slurred 
With  seething  wet,  to  structure  crystallined. 

In  flux  like  his  the  rock-floods  rayed,  and 

spinned 
Tow'rd    centred    hearts    like    hers:    their 

World-child  heard 
The  parent  rhyme  and  lived  the  molten 

word 

Whereto    the   twy-fold   substance   streamed 
akinned. 

[163] 


LIPS   OF  MUSIC 

So  Motion  wooed  through  Form  to  finer  pact, 
Till     slow,     instinctive     Substance     inly 

yearned 
1    For  frame  more  shapely-rare,  and  sure 

troth-plight 

To  ceaseless  Motion,  bodied  forth  in  act 
The  radiant  Energy  that  in  her  burned: 
Responding  realms  of  Comrade-worlds 
beamed  Light! 


[164] 


LIFE'S  RHYMES 


GROWTH 

"And  God  saith  Let  the  Earth  bring  forth." 

RESPONDING  realms  of  Comrade-worlds 

beamed  Light!  — 

Quivered  the  dreaming  eyelids  of  the  Sea ! — 
Startled  Earth's  brooding  brow  forebod- 
ingly 
As  blindly  brightened  with  dim  seed  of  sight! 

And  secret  offspring  quickened  to  the  rite 
Of  chrism  in  the  sky-born  sympathy:  — 
The  germ  divined  the  force  that  bade  it  be, 

Felt,  fold  on  fold  within,  replying  might. 

It  groped  in  slime,  salt  ooze,  and  weathered 

rock; 
And,  climbing  blankness,  dared  to  face  the 

sun, 

[165] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Sought  for  what  rhyme  with  light  plant- 
life  pairs  true: 
Of  Earth  the  nursling  root!    Of  Heaven  the 

stock!  — 
Vague  Airland  steadfast  Earth  built  up  as 

one, 

O  glad  from  singing  Earth-mouths  plant- 
life  grew! 


[166] 


LIFE'S   RHYMES 


MOTIVE 

"The  moving  creature  that  hath  life  let  the  Earth  bring 
forth" 

\J  GLAD  from  singing  Earth-mouths  plant- 
life  grew! 

It  thrived  on  fever  spared  the  tortured  soil, 
And  from  the  bitter  Waters'  tossed  turmoil 
Through   all   its   fluting   reed-throats   sweet 
draught;  drew. 

The     growth     alchemic     leavened     Nature 

through 

With  vital  ferment:  Titan  forest-spoil 
Stored  Heaven-brought  fire  to  serve  yet 

unborn  toil; 

Witch-working  flotsam  sought    Life's    next 
rhyme  —  You, — 

[167] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

O  embryonic  Will,  your  chemic  leap 
In  thirsty  fibre-tip,  in  hungry  sac, 
That  burst  Earth's  mother-cord  to  fare 

alone,  — 

In  wine-dark  caverns  of  the  moorless  Deep, 
Adventured  forth  marauding  films  to  track 
The  Life  self-moved,  enhungered  for  its 
own. 


[168] 


LIFE'S   RHYMES 


DESIRE 

"Let  us  make  man." 

JL  HE  Life  self-moved,  enhungered  for  its 

own, 

Through  strange  shapes  roamed,  each  rest- 
less want  fulfilled, 
Divergence  craved,  and  groped  with  bent 

instilled 

For  sense  more  inward,  in  more  free  form 
thrown. 

Insatiate  of  types  through  ^Eons  strown, 
The    vortexed    Life-fire,    centred    Earth- 
forms  build, 
The  windwinged  Life-flow,  weaving  Water 

willed, 
Still  seek  the  Heir  to  reap  the  seed-traits  sown. 

[169] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Worm-shapes  that  wave-wise  aim  in  nervous 

lines, 
Molluskan  sphere-shapes  massing  inward 

force, 
Beast,  fish,  amphibian,  insect,  bird,  — 

all  deed 
To   Life    their   fierce-fought   functions    and 

designs, 
Whose  branching  pattern  and  heaped-up 

resource 

For  mastership  empower'd  a  Man  shall 
breed. 


[170] 


LIFE'S  RHYMES 
POWER 

11  And  let  him  have  dominion." 

Jr  OR  mastership  empower'd  a  Man   shall 

breed : 
Who  must  out-trap,   out-toil,   out-watch, 

out-lust 

His  prowling,  cunning,  lusty  brothers,  must 
All  wants  that  shaped  them  all  out-do  —  or 
feed! 

So  grows  he,  inchmeal,  to  attain  and  lead, 
Erect  himself,  like  plant-life,  from  his  dust 
Ensky  his  brain-fraught  brow,  and  onward 
thrust 

In  untried  realms,  and  strain  for  spirit-speed. 

Yet  out  of  violence  and  rapine  whelped, 
Nor  violence  nor  rapine  can  he  spurn 
Whom  ripening  soul  but  slowly  thrones 

above, 

[171] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

Whose  every  step  was  beast  and  body  helped; 
Transcending  ill  by  ills  must  he  discern;  — 
Till  knowing  Good  from  111  he  shall  learn 
Love! 


[172] 


LIFE'S  RHYMES 


LOVE 

"Man  is  become  as  one  of  us  to  know  good  and  evil 
.  .  .  lest  he  put  forth  his  hand  and  take  also  of  the  tree  of 
life  and  live  forever  .  .  .  he  placed  cherubims  and  a  flam- 
ing sword  which  turned  every  way  to  keep  the  way  of  the 
tree  of  life."  —  "But  .  .  .  he  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him 
hear  what  the  Spirit  saith :  To  him  that  overcometh  will 
I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life." 

I  ILL  knowing  Good  from  111  he  shall  learn 

Love; 

Through  affluence  of  power,  understand; 
Through  inborn  sympathies  at  last  com- 
mand 

The  wild   and  bestial  wills  he  forced   and 
drove.  — 

Till  all  by  which  unwillingly  he  throve  — 
Ay,  occult  energies  of  Sea  and  Land, 
Of  Fire  and  Air  come  tuned  to  his  hand 

To  make  the  Music  whither  Being  strove. 
[173] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

The  gods  of  Love  and  Knowledge  shall  create 
In  him;  new  life  the  breast  of  Death  shall 

thrill: 
By  like  to  unlike  linked  Life's  Poem 

climbs, 

And  leaps  to  Joy  when  Love  and  Power  mate 
Incarnate  in  the  sleepless  human  will. 
I    hear    Unending    Being    sing    Life's 
Rhymes ! 


[174] 


FAIRY    GOLD 

A     DIVINATION 

.L/IFE  shall  be  richer  in  you  more  and  more, 
And  each  New  Year,  far  surer  than  before, 

The  Soul  in  you  shall  find, 

Responsive  to  her  sight, 

Resource  of  Heart  and  Mind  — 

Her  Treasure- trove  of  might 

That  each  Day's  need  had  sought, 

With  each  new  Sun  divined, 

Full  ready  to  be  wrought! 

Her  mystic  rod  of  light 

Shall  tremble  and  dip  down  to  your  pure  ore, 
And  show  it  waiting  secretly  and  true, 
A  mine  of  unsuspected  gold  in  you! 
The  sensitive  witch-hazel  of  each  sun, 

Sparkling  the  darkling  mood, 
Shall  find  your  Fairy  Gold,  and  make  it  one 

With  all  your  life  holds  good! 
[1751 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 


LIPS    OF    MUSIC 

"  1  URN,  Life,  and  face  me!    Under  smiling 
masks 

"You  gleam,  but  you  escape.     Dares  only 
Death, 

"Dumb    Death,    front  eager  Man?     True- 
touch  me,  Life, 

"To  hear  your  hidden  mouth  of  melody, 
"Your  lips  of  music!" 

Life  stood  before  me,  smiling  masks  torn  off: 
Those  stars,  her  eyes'  were  living  wells  of 

tears, 

The  iron  entered  eating  to  her  soul, 
And  yet  but  moved  her  mouth  to  melody, 
Her  lips  to  music. 

"Know,  then,"  she  said,  "it  only  marks  life 

true 

"When  stars  the  brighter  beckon  under  tears, 
[176] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

"When  rapture  wingeth  passion  up  from  pain, 

"And  trembling  souls  move  mouths  to  melody 

"And  lips  to  music." 

Then,  first  I  felt  Life's  force  and  staleless 

lure, 

And  read  the  meaning  lighted  in  her  eyes. 
Her   wine    to    hearten    heroes    feeds    from 

wounds, 

And  conquest  moves  her  mouth  to  melody, 
Her  lips  to  music. 

"Ay!  Heed!"  she  said,  — "No  wound  shall 

sap  my  founts 
"But  they  shall  pour  the  heartening  wine  of 

Health, 

"  Retrieval,  Rescue,  —  feed  the  mastership 
"Inspiriting  all  mouths  to  melody 
"All  lips  to  music. 

"No  wrong  shall  hurt  my  children,  but  shall 

spawn 
"Delivering  heroes;  smite  renewing  wine 

[177] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

"Out  with   the  steel  of  harm  to  feast  good 

will, 

"And  wake  the  happy  mouth  to  melody, 
"The  lips  to  music." 

So,  of  her  will  to  save  the  over-borne,  — 

The  stunted,  pillaged,  want-dogged,  wing- 
hurt  ones; 

Of  joy  she  yearns  to  wrest  —  even  from 
woe, 

Loud  rang  her  prophet-mouth  of  melody,  ' 
Her  lips  of  music. 


RED    DOORS 

I.    AM   the   Lips   of  Man,  —  the   Way   of 

Breath; 
With   form   and   strength   I   dower   inmost 

things 
That  own  no  substance,  yet   outweigh   the 

World. 

The  universal  Elements,  create 
And  uncreate,  were  made  for  serving  these 
Most  strong  weak  things,  whose  spirit-path 

of  will, 
Whose  way  of  breath  my  living  doors  unfold. 

Through  me  the  puny  wail  of  new-born 

babe 
To  world-cold  naked,  —  through  me  God's 

Spirit  — 

That  breathes  as  Wind  upon  the  Waters'  face 
And  quickens  Universes  into  frame 
Unendingly,  —  push  with  the  self-same  pulse. 
The  Portals  of  the  Fire  of  Life  am  I. 
[179] 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

I  wait  upon  each  Word  the  Heirs  of  Life 
Shall  seek  to  father  as  they  Fathered  were 
I  serve  the  faltering  tongue-tethered  flame 
That  flickers  forth  and  faints  in  dull  air  out; 
I  glow  and  thrill  when  rushing  inward  fire 
Springs  like  a  seed  and  grows,  unfurls,  and 

spreads 

Out  wings  enkindled  into  flashing  spires 
Of  blossoms  of  the  soaring  human  soul, 
Outclimbing  Earth's  deep-rooted  firmament, 
Transcending    range    and    thoroughfare    of 

space, 

Companioning  the  reaches  of  the  air, 
Where  swaying  seas  and  reeling  spheres  but 

swing 

For  that  the  gladder  up  their  azure  steeps, 
The  swifter  in  their  spiral  tow'rd  the  Sun,     . 
With  subtler  music,  more  harmonious  trend. 
The  Portals  of  the  Fire  of  Song  am  I. 

The  fire,  like  fire  I  harbor,  I  must  seek. 
I  open  to  the  inward  flow  of  fire 
Akin  to  outward  streams  I  pour;  that  ebb 
[180] 


RED  DOORS 

The  body's  life  to  flood  its  spirit-power; 
Till  each  renewed,  returning  throb  of  love 
From  hidden  founts,  is  quenchless  as  the  Will 
Behind  the  ebb  and  flooding  of  the  Sea,  — 
The  tidal  sea-lips,  wave-curved,  all  athirst, 
Forever  in  a  tumult  to  kiss  Earth, 
As  my  lips  thirst  to  kiss  the  lips  I  love. 
The  Portals  of  the  Fire  of  Love  am  I. 

The  Life  and  Love  I  utter  double  force 
When  anguish  rends  the  deeps  of  Life  and 

Love, 

And  energies  volcanic,  fate-suppressed, 
Chastised    and    chastened,    subtlest   singing 

find. 
The  nether  fires  pierce  through  the  gloom  to 

glow, 

The  ashes  stir  with  conquest,  ember-red. 
The  Portals  of  the  Fire  of  Woe  am  I. 

Through  me  upwell  the  hidden  gyres  of 

grief: 

Sobs  and  psalms  shake  me  through  the  dark 
of  life: 

[181] 


LIPS  OF  MUSIC 

I  lift  up  Alleluias  in  Fate's  face 

That  shine  like  starry  blossoms  in  Life's  sun. 

I    am    the    pain-wrung    praying    Mouth    of 

Man  — 

The  bleeding  lips  that  shout  the  hero's  cry, 
From  woe  of  Life  and  Loving  wresting  Joy. 
Red  doors  of  Man's  aspiring  Soul  am  I,  — 
The  Portals  of  his  Fire  of  Triumph,  I! 


[182] 


THE   DARK  OF  THE   YEAR 

A    CHRISTMAS-TIDE    BENEDICTION 

VyUT  of  the  measureless  spaces, 
Out  of  the  regions  unshown, 

Beam  on  thee  all  the  hid  graces, 
Will  of  thy  Spirit  hath  sown! 

Out  of  thy  reticent  powers, 

Out  of  thy  hesitant  will, 
Blossom  the  triumphing  flowers, 

Dreaming  desires  in  thee  thrill! 

So  from  the  germinant  sources, 

Locked  through  the  dark  of  the  year, 

Gather  in  quietude,  forces 

Bringing  earth's  blooming  near. 

[183] 


LIPS   OF   MUSIC 

So  from  the  Ages'  long  silence, 

Furling  humanity's  dearth, 
Sprang  to  bid  darkness  defiance, 

Bloom  of  man's  spirit  —  Christ's  birth. 


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